Challenge Day 1 Response: My privilege
What privilege do I have?
I have a lot of privilege, some of which I notice, but I know that there is a lot that I miss on my radar on a daily basis.
For one I am white, which leads me to have copious amounts of privilege for I live in a society in which for many people my 'race' (albeit a social construct is very prevalent in our reality) does not exist and it is simply the air in which we breath and the ocean that we swim. Also as I am part of the majority my views are often seen as individual and I do not have to take on the responsibility of being a spokesperson for others of my race.
Another privilege that I have is that I am often read as straight in a predominantly heterosexual society. Regardless of what my actual sexual orientation is, the way people interpret and perceive me, changes the way that people interact with me. I do not have to justify my actions like others might be asked to in different situations. I am just seen as another fish in the sea that is heterosexuality.
Although I do have a disability (cerebral palsy) of which I strongly identify, I have a rather mild form of it, so thus I do not have the daily issues that others with a disability might have. This gives me a unique insight into things that some able - bodied individuals might
not consider. I don't have the constant worry of needing to know where the nearest elevator is or needing to know if the bathroom is accessible to me or having to worry about needing extra time on an exam or any of the multiple other considerations that many people with disabilities have to make on a daily basis. I find myself to be very privileged to have the perspective that I do.
Another major privilege in my life is that I come from a middle class family and have never had to worry about money and all the problems that go along with it. Not that I have had everything handed to me on a plate, but I have never had the constant worry of rent, etc. because I know that my parents are always there to help me if I really needed it. Also it has allowed me to travel the world and experience things that I would not have had, if my family had not have had the opportunities available to them. Also I am very privileged to have the family that I do. My family has stayed together and I have great support from everyone in my family. I will never be alone in this world, because I have them, I am sure of it.
Another privilege that I have is the country I have chosen to live in. For one I have had the opportunity to make a choice about where to live which others often do not get to make the choice. I also live in a country where I am fairly free to speak my mind, live the way that I want to live, etc. (within the constraints of society of course) and many people live in countries where they are openly oppressed. I might still be oppressed where I live but it is less and in a more covert way (although neither is right).
Now what to do about all this privilege?
I know that I can't get rid of it because of the society that I live in and also I should not feel guilty about it and blame it on someone else, because it has made me who I am today and has benefited me greatly in the past and will continue to in the future. I think that I should try to use the privilege that I have to stand side by side with others who do not have the privilege and to stand up and say that I think it is wrong. I should 'fight' (perhaps a strong word, but I can't think of anything better) for the things that I think are wrong with the world. I should become more aware of my privilege on a daily basis and talk to others about privilege to see different view points and to discuss how we can lead to more equity in our lives.
What I have left out
I am sure that I have forgotten to mention many, many, many more of the privilege that I get from just being who I am. And I could go on all day about what I should do about my privilege, because my opinions about that topic change like the wind. However, it is getting late, so I will think about this topic through out the day today and come back to you if I think of anything else.
On another note
I really enjoyed the Jay Smooth TEDtalk about racism, I think he has an interesting point. I believe we do need to change the way we converse about these serious issues, because if we continue to avoid them, get offended by them because they are awkward, then we are not going to get anywhere. We need to be open to discussion and constructive criticism in order to become more aware and to perhaps bring about change.
I have a lot of privilege, some of which I notice, but I know that there is a lot that I miss on my radar on a daily basis.
For one I am white, which leads me to have copious amounts of privilege for I live in a society in which for many people my 'race' (albeit a social construct is very prevalent in our reality) does not exist and it is simply the air in which we breath and the ocean that we swim. Also as I am part of the majority my views are often seen as individual and I do not have to take on the responsibility of being a spokesperson for others of my race.
Another privilege that I have is that I am often read as straight in a predominantly heterosexual society. Regardless of what my actual sexual orientation is, the way people interpret and perceive me, changes the way that people interact with me. I do not have to justify my actions like others might be asked to in different situations. I am just seen as another fish in the sea that is heterosexuality.
Although I do have a disability (cerebral palsy) of which I strongly identify, I have a rather mild form of it, so thus I do not have the daily issues that others with a disability might have. This gives me a unique insight into things that some able - bodied individuals might
not consider. I don't have the constant worry of needing to know where the nearest elevator is or needing to know if the bathroom is accessible to me or having to worry about needing extra time on an exam or any of the multiple other considerations that many people with disabilities have to make on a daily basis. I find myself to be very privileged to have the perspective that I do.
Another major privilege in my life is that I come from a middle class family and have never had to worry about money and all the problems that go along with it. Not that I have had everything handed to me on a plate, but I have never had the constant worry of rent, etc. because I know that my parents are always there to help me if I really needed it. Also it has allowed me to travel the world and experience things that I would not have had, if my family had not have had the opportunities available to them. Also I am very privileged to have the family that I do. My family has stayed together and I have great support from everyone in my family. I will never be alone in this world, because I have them, I am sure of it.
Another privilege that I have is the country I have chosen to live in. For one I have had the opportunity to make a choice about where to live which others often do not get to make the choice. I also live in a country where I am fairly free to speak my mind, live the way that I want to live, etc. (within the constraints of society of course) and many people live in countries where they are openly oppressed. I might still be oppressed where I live but it is less and in a more covert way (although neither is right).
Now what to do about all this privilege?
I know that I can't get rid of it because of the society that I live in and also I should not feel guilty about it and blame it on someone else, because it has made me who I am today and has benefited me greatly in the past and will continue to in the future. I think that I should try to use the privilege that I have to stand side by side with others who do not have the privilege and to stand up and say that I think it is wrong. I should 'fight' (perhaps a strong word, but I can't think of anything better) for the things that I think are wrong with the world. I should become more aware of my privilege on a daily basis and talk to others about privilege to see different view points and to discuss how we can lead to more equity in our lives.
What I have left out
I am sure that I have forgotten to mention many, many, many more of the privilege that I get from just being who I am. And I could go on all day about what I should do about my privilege, because my opinions about that topic change like the wind. However, it is getting late, so I will think about this topic through out the day today and come back to you if I think of anything else.
On another note
I really enjoyed the Jay Smooth TEDtalk about racism, I think he has an interesting point. I believe we do need to change the way we converse about these serious issues, because if we continue to avoid them, get offended by them because they are awkward, then we are not going to get anywhere. We need to be open to discussion and constructive criticism in order to become more aware and to perhaps bring about change.
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