Privilege

Through our discussions, I'm realizing privilege isn't always limited to the rewards you're given in life, earned and unearned, deserved and not. It has a whole other layer extending to a freedom from worry and an ability to dismiss certain cares that others must face daily. After reading Peggy McIntosh's article, I feel an acute sense of shame in how unaware I was of certain pathways that are made easier for me simply because of how I look. More acute is the realization of how in some cases I actually use (or abuse) these pathways knowingly. I know I can get away with certain things because I am an unassuming young white girl. People place unearned faith in me based on assumptions they make about the type of person I am. That I can smile and flirt to make more tips as a female waitress. That is a privilege. That if I ask a person on the street for a dollar because I'm short for the bus, they're not going to deny me or look the other way because they think I'm trying to pull a fast one on them to go buy a 40. That is a privilege. And that I can apply for an apartment or a job and they will accept me or hire me at face value without necessarily worrying if I can make rent at the end of the month or have a terrible credit history.

But to not completely dwell on guilt and punish myself, I'm also trying to look at it from another angle. If I was to be walking in a rougher neighborhood, I would have to be more guarded as a young white girl. If I was an older male with a more aggressive appearance, would that be considered a privilege in that scenario? I guess my point is that privilege can be absolute within society, but can also be relative. The goal is to make privileges more attainable for everyone, but to also look closely at the privileges children are already holding, or don't have, and see how they have shaped the person they are, and will shape the person they will become.