  Background: We present an analysis of interviews with 27 self-identified
progressive white-male physics faculty and graduate students discussing race
and gender in physics. White men dominate most STEM fields and are particularly
overrepresented in positions of status and influence (i.e. full professors,
chairs, deans, etc.), positioning them as a potentially powerful demographic
for enacting systemic reform. Despite their proclaimed outrage at and interest
in addressing inequity, they frequently engage in patterns of belief, speech
and (in)action that ultimately support the status quo of white male privilege
in opposition to their intentions.
  Results: The white male physicists we interviewed used numerous discourses
which support racist and sexist norms and position them as powerless to disrupt
their own privilege. We present and discuss three overarching themes, seen in
our data, demonstrating how highly intelligent, well-intentioned people of
privilege maintain their power and privilege despite their own intentions: 1)
Denying inequity is physically near them, 2) Locating causes of inequity in
large societal systems over which they have little influence and 3) Justifying
inaction.
  Conclusions: Despite being progressively minded, well-meaning, and highly
intelligent, these men are frequently complicit in racism and sexism in
physics. We end with recommendations for helping these men to engage the power
they hold to better work with women and people of color in disrupting inequity
in physics.
