Stretching Our Thinking

I'm quite privileged. I've had a few struggles, but overall my life has been far easier than most. This is not a bad thing, nor is it something to be ashamed of. But I am aware of my advantages and work to help others who don't have them. I've checked my privilege. 

I'm quite privileged. I've had a few struggles, but overall my life has been far easier than most. This is not a bad thing, nor is it something to be ashamed of. But I am aware of my advantages and work to help others who don't have them. I've checked my privilege. 

I was surprised that I could agree with almost every point on the checklist. It really made me think about those who can't agree with those sentiments from the checklist and what we as a society can do to change that. As a woman, I think there were a few points I couldn't agree to because of my gender but for the most part I, as a white woman, as fairly privileged. 

I looked at the privilege checklists. The checklists helped identify concrete ways that helped me recognize and remember my advantages. As a heterosexual, I have PDA without hesitation. My parents are still alive and married. I don’t have physical disabilities. I have never been depressed.  Affirming these statements helped me see my privilege even though I’ve had occasions of feeling disadvantaged, and I can fall into the trap of feeling like everyone around me has it easier.

The idea that privilege is the opposite of oppression was eye opening for me. I think it is an easier way of painting the picture of what exactly privilege means. I have not thought about it in the sense of it being the opposite of oppression and I think that is powerful and thought provoking. I liked that this article connected back to intersectionality again, because I think that idea is so important. There are so many different aspects to a person and it is so important to respect and value all the aspects of a person, and to also recognize how that can affect privilege. I’m not just a white female, there are so many other layers to me. It was eye opening to me when I read that privilege and oppression interact but do not negate each other. Having privilege can also mean that you are oppressed. The statements Phoenix Calida wrote are extremely thought provoking. “Under the same set of circumstances you’re in, life would be harder without your privilege.”

I always found the following description of privilege by Peggy McIntosh to be true:
 “Privilege exists when one group has something of value that is denied to others simply because of the groups they belong to, rather than because of anything they’ve done or failed to do. Access to privilege doesn’t determine one’s outcomes, but it is definitely an asset that makes it more likely that whatever talent, ability, and aspirations a person with privilege has will result in something positive for them.” y

When talking about privilege, most people feel discomfort. Having privilege is not inherently a bad thing, but it is how you utilize it and how others are impacted by it, that you must vigilantly attend to.

I have two considerations regarding privilege college and health.

I was thinking about my children and their application to college…a private college. One of the questions was about what members of your family had attended the institution. Ah, I’d say that is Institutional Classism. Colleges giving preference to children of alumni, thus making it harder for first-generation college applicants to get in.

Another part of privilege that I considered as I read this week’s information was health privilege. This pandemic has changed life as we know it. In the United States, COVID-19 has shown that long-standing historical, racial, and social inequities continue to persist despite extensive public health and clinical efforts. Minorities who tend to have less privilege and access to proper health care as well as healthy food options have suffered more throughout the pandemic.

 In response to COVID-19, the federal government issued coronavirus guidelines urging Americans to stay home and contact their medical provider if they feel sick. While these guidelines may seem simple at first glance, we must consider Americans who work in industries with minimal pay, work jobs with no sick leave, and are uninsured or underinsured. People with privilege were protected while those without that protection were not.

I did a survey How Privileged Are You?
This is what it said: You're quite privileged. You've had a few struggles, but overall your life has been far easier than most. This is not a bad thing, nor is it something to be ashamed of. But you should be aware of your advantages and work to help others who don't have them. Thank you for checking your privilege.

I know I am super privileged in life but didn't realize some aspects like the eating disorders. Ive felt that I've live under a rock when I was a kid. Just being white is a huge privilege!  

I consider myself very fortunate. After reviewing the list of privileges, I found myself to be very fortunate due to the circumstances that I was born to and raised in.   I can only relate these qualifiers to myself and cannot make judgements as to anyone else having more privilege than I. My family was stable with two good parents and a great brother. My parents were big on getting me educated and encouraged me to choose classes that would make that education diverse and applicable to job market swings.  I grew up in a very safe neighborhood with many neighborhood buddies as a result of the baby boom. I attended parochial schools that focused on getting all those first and second-generation Americans" educated.  That was a big opportunity. I never saw my gender as a female to be a drawback except that I was too short to be a pilot in the Air Force. (Had I grown to at least 5'7 I would have been okay) That dashed my hopes of being an astronaut back in the 70"s.  True story!  LOL!   I do wish that all those around me had had the same opportunities as I had. My parents' opportunities or lives were much more difficult than mine, but they made sure that my brother and myself had access to a great future. I was a bit shocked that being able to do your own taxes, was not considered a privilege!!  Understanding how the tax returns work is a privilege because it assists you in making good financial decisions. I would definitely change that one on the checklist.

White privilege has been such a popular topic recently (as it should be) that I failed to recognize all the other ways I am also privileged until completing these exercises. As a female that identifies as a female, I do not consider gender to be a privilege. However so many other characteristics related to this COULD be considered privilege, such as my gender identity and sexual orientation. Also, I am lower middle class (upper lower class? I don't think I'm technically even considered middle class) but my lifestyle projects that social class and therefore, definitely has afforded some instances of privilege, mostly when interacting with members of society in public, such as in stores, businesses and restaurants. Other members of my same social class view me as one of their own and are more likely to give me the benefit of double and not judge my actions or intentions. This is such an unfortunate reality in our world, and I definitely think the general public needs much more educational on the actual definition of privilege and then to be encouraged to explore their own privileges in a safe and respectful space. 

I took this Buzzfeed checklist and I thought it was interesting. I feel very privileged by the way I was raised and my financial upbringing, but I have faced some adversities relating to racial identity and gender. I think this shows how multifaceted privilege is. The checklist made me consider privilege relating to body image and mental health, which is not always talked about, so I appreciate looking at all the different aspects relating to privilege. 

For the check your privilege activity, I scored 66/100 or "quite privileged." This activity was a good reminder to me of what is considered a privilege. I often overlook the fact that I have never had to wonder where my next meal is coming from or the fact that any town I visit, there is a church for my religion. I have coworkers who do not have this privilege with their religion. For example, one of my coworkers has certain times where she prays during the day and employers have not always been accommodating to this. Mental health, able-bodied privilege and higher education are all privileges that I tend to overlook. This activity was a good reminder.