MineralMan (50,697 posts)
The Problem with Being Privileged
I am privileged to a large degree. As a white, straight, male, able-bodied, college-educated, married, man with no criminal convictions who also is a military veteran, financially solvent and over the age of 65, much privilege accrues to me automatically. Because of that privilege, I can:
This has nothing to do with privilege. The only one that he couldn't control is being born white, the rest where good decisions. So am I to believe that because I make good decisions in my life that I am some how privileged? Am, I to be guilty about my good decisions?
And the people who make bad decisions are not privileged, therefore they require me to be guilty? What the hell kinda logic is this.
Now time for me to pick a part his "privileges."
Walk down the sidewalk without being looked at suspiciously.
Depends on what neighborhood you are in.Drive through any area without being stopped for no reason.
Here in my area, you will get pulled over just for being white if you are in the wrong neighbor hoods because no white person goes in those neighbor hoods unless they are wanting to score.Shop in whatever stores I wish without being considered a potential thief.
Everyone is considered a thief until they pay for their goods at checkout.Avoid being shunned or attacked for my sexuality.
We know this is bullshit, just check out the LGBT group.Never worry about a potential employer or client wondering if I'll get pregnant or marry.
That's just life, has nothing to do with privilege.Be given great attention if I go into a car dealership or hardware store.
It's privilege because you carry yourself well, and probably don't look like a bum or Occupier?Enter buildings after climbing stairs and pulling open heavy doors.
Again, this has to do with decisions you made in your life for your body. No privilege.Receive single-payer healthcare from my government.
Receive a payment each month from Social Security.
Privilege? Really?Get special treatment for home mortgages.
You don't get special privileges. You may have taken care of your finances correctly over your life time and thus are more apt to receive refinances and mortgage's.Avoid being treated like a criminal at traffic stops.
Depends on the officer that pulled you over, the area you are in, and the reason you are being pulled over. No privilege.But, then I see someone else who is not me, doesn't match my description, and who did not automatically start with that big pile of privilege. I see people every day for whom parts of the list above simply does not apply. For some, almost nothing in that list applies. Then I remember my privilege and am humbled by it. I didn't earn it, for the most part. It simple accrues to me by accident of birth, mostly.
Again... for the slow DUmmies. The only thing you were born into is your color. And that may have been a privilege when you were born, but we aren't in the 50's anymore.
