white fragility

American  

[hwahyt fruh-jil-i-tee, wahyt] / ˈʰwaɪt frəˌdʒɪl ɪ ti, ˈwaɪt /

noun

1. the tendency among members of the dominant white cultural group to have a defensive, wounded, angry, or dismissive response to evidence of racism.

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Etymology

Origin of white fragility

Coined by Robin DiAngelo (born 1956), U.S. academic and author, in her article “White Fragility” (2011)

Example Sentences

The expanding lexicon around bias and privilege includes terms like “white fragility” or “white tears,” referring to white people’s defensive refusal to fully engage with accountability; other phrases like “virtue signaling,” being “a Karen” or “performative allyship” underline the difference between honest and fake engagement with questions of ethics, morality and responsibility.

From New York Times

Some will seek guidance about proper racial etiquette from books like Robin DiAngelo's "White Fragility."

From Salon

She was also affected by her participation in the “White Fragility” book group and by her own reading from a website called Diverse Spines.

From New York Times

The current cultural climate also menaces Holsinger’s novel: a canceled media personality; a faithfully reproduced tweet thread; terms like “intersectional,” “burnout,” “white fragility” and “Ma’am … this is a Wendy’s” all make appearances.

From New York Times

Hardy, who is now drawing from his background to implement training on whiteness and therapy, believes that psychotherapy can further the education-based race work many white people have sought since the 2020 protests, when Ibram X. Kendi’s How to Be an Antiracist and Robin DiAngelo’s White Fragility became bestsellers.

From Slate