Stretching Our Thinking

Sian Ferguson’s “Privilege 101” breaks down the concept of privilege by explaining that it is not about individual guilt or blaming anyone but about recognizing the unearned advantages some people have based on aspects like race, gender, class, or ability. The guide clears up common myths such as the idea that having privilege means life is easy or that acknowledging privilege means someone’s life is not hard. Instead, it shows that privilege simply means certain barriers are easier to navigate or do not exist at all for some people. Reflecting on this helps me understand how important it is to stay aware of these advantages and use that awareness to create fairer spaces where everyone has equal opportunities. It is a reminder that recognizing privilege is a step toward empathy and action, not shame.

I read the article, "Privilege 101: A Quick and Dirty Guide," and I have learned that privilege goes beyond the skin color. Privilege occurs with the socio-ecoconomic status, gender, abilities, sexual orientation, language, geographic regions, and religion, to name a few. Society grants people their privileges by their identity. We can see that privilege occurs with insitutional powers, and there are many disadvantaged groups that face oppression every day. While privilege and oppression intersect, they do not negate one another. We must understand the difference between privilege and oppression, and how we should not judge and put people down because of their unique backgrounds and scenarios.