Introduction
Every
privilege conceals a power disparity. For those who have it, it is invisible,
but for those who don't, it is always there. Benefits that people receive
because they belong to a particular social group or have certain aspects of
their identity are referred to as privileging. Your ethnicity, gender, sexual
orientation, ability, religion, wealth, and class, among other factors, can
determine whether you have or don't have the privilege. Having a privilege is
having a benefit over which you have no control and which you did not inquire.
Unless you become aware of it, you might not even notice it. Power is dispersed
according to privilege and lack of advantage.
Given
that advantage is the converse of oppression, it is challenging to recognize
our privilege. Because they don't want to be perceived as the aggressors or
involved in a system that affords them an advantage at the expense of others,
some people are against discussing privilege. Other detractors of the term
"privilege" misinterpret it as a catch-all phrase that implies that
if you have a privilege, your life has been simple. In the end, the idea of
privilege is not intended to instil guilt in people or to minimize their
accomplishments. Instead, becoming aware of your potential privileges is a
crucial first step in being able to take decisive action, both in small and
large ways, to make the systems work for you. With clear examples, we also
discuss five different sorts of privileges below.
White Supremacy
White privilege gives white people advantages over people of color in many nations. Being directly typecast or treated differently is one aspect of not having white privilege, but it can also mean that you do not feel that your needs are being met by the culture in which you live. White people might not be aware of their advantages, even though white privilege is always there and obvious to those who don't have it. For instance, a white person in the UK or the US does not have to look far and wide to find bandages or cosmetics that are suitable for their skin, and they do not experience what it is like to turn on the TV only to discover that nobody is watching.
Religious Privilege
Finding a place of worship nearby and feeling a connection between your religious festivals and the larger society are examples of religious privilege. A religious privilege would be the right to an automatic day off from work on religious holidays.
Sex Privilege
Male privilege, a collection of perks accorded to males based on their gender, is the most common example of gender privilege. Men can sometimes be treated more properly and given more attention in casual talks, and they are frequently prioritized and paid attention to in terms of career advancement and salary. Many well-known films fail the Bechdel Test, which determines if a tale (in books, movies, or scripts) features at least two women who converse about something other than a guy. This finding may surprise you. The list includes classics like The Social Network, Star Wars, and the complete Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The straight privilege was used to denote the benefits bestowed on someone as a result of their heterosexual orientation. When you have this privilege, you won't ever have to worry about "coming out," feeling insecure holding hands with your significant other in public, or feeling the need to keep your mouth shut around diverse groups that think your orientation is improper or uncomfortable. Straight privilege also includes the ability to see your love and familial goals portrayed in media such as movies, music, pop culture, and Valentine's Day cards.
Economic and Social Privilege
Because
it manifests differently for each person, socioeconomic privilege is a
difficult notion to understand. While for some people having access to luxury
items means being able to go to college, for others it just means having a roof
over your head and a place to sleep at night. Socioeconomic privilege might
entail having the finances to be able to take advantage of the chance life has
provided you with, such as unpaid internships or after-school tutoring jobs —
small privileges that can offer you an advantage in the labor market.
Conclusion
Most of us have some sort of privilege. That doesn't mean we didn't put in any effort or go through other challenges in life. Understanding our privilege is crucial if we are to speak up for less fortunate people. It can be difficult to acknowledge and much harder to discuss privilege.
You
need to be aware, listen, and speak up if you want to make the most of your
privilege and be a good ally. Focus on equity rather than equality to ensure
that everyone has access to the resources that they need to succeed.
Written by Anagha S
0 Comments