ABSTRACT
The effects on young people of an adult culture of power are similar to the effects on people of color of a white culture of power or the effects on women of a male culture of power. A culture of power dramatically limits the ability of those on the margins to participate in an event, a situation, or an organization. The author focuses on some ways that groups often fail to include members of the country’s most marginalized members, those marginalized by economic status, physical ability, and English language ability. Those inside the culture of power rarely notice it, while those excluded are often acutely sensitive to how they and others are being marginalized. Therefore leadership in efforts to eliminate the culture of power needs to come from those in excluded or marginalized groups. Every institution of higher education has a culture of power. Each department, division, school, program, and office within it has its own subculture of power.
