Privilege

This is an interesting view of privilege. Apparently it is running rampant through blogs and other outlets, and it's easy to see why: it gives good cause to pause and think, which most of us could use a lot more of.

It's based on What Privileges Do You Have?, an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker and Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. So far I have looked at the source material only briefly, but I like the concept and the direction of thinking and am looking forward to reading more. In any case, if you participate in this blog game, they ask that you please acknowledge their copyright.

Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to college.
2. Father finished college.
3. Mother went to college.
4. Mother finished college.
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18.
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18.
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs. (From her $12k a year job, I might add. Don't talk to me about having trouble saving money.)
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs.
16. Went to a private high school.
17. Went to summer camp.
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18.
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels.
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18.
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them.
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child. (My sister painted her art directly on the living room wall. She was good, too! I guess that doesn't count....)
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house.
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.
25. You had your own room as a child.
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16.
31. Went on a cruise with your family.
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

It's funny how I wanted to qualify many of the statements I marked as true, or elaborate on ones I didn't mark. But I'll leave it at that, and simply say that as an "upper lower-class" child, I had it awfully good. I am happy to say that in the intervening years, it's a realization I had already come to and one for which I thank my family every chance I get.