Final answer:
The correct answer is A) Privilege, which is the unearned advantages that individuals receive by being part of a dominant social group, such as white privilege, and is tied to institutional discrimination.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the sum of the unearned advantages of special group membership. The correct answer is A) Privilege. Privilege in a social context is the unearned advantages that individuals receive by being a part of a dominant or advantaged social group.
This can encompass a wide array of benefits ranging from the value of money and assets a person inherits to subtle social advantages, like being treated with a certain level of respect by default or being the beneficiary of societal norms and expectations that favor one's group.
When discussing the concept of privilege, often the term white privilege is used, which is understood as the benefits people receive simply by being part of the dominant racial group.
White privilege can manifest in numerous ways, such as systemic advantages in education, employment, legal situations, or everyday social interactions.
These advantages are usually invisible to those who have them, and it's important to note that acknowledging privilege is not about shouldering personal blame but rather about recognizing how institutional and societal structures create unequal starting points for different groups.
It is a matter not of individual guilt but societal institutional discrimination, where one group is promoted and hence benefits at the expense of other populations.
These privileges are bestowed on individuals due to aspects of their identity such as race, class, gender, or sexual orientation, among others, and are not the result of personal accomplishments. The correct option is A.