Why We Need to Start Acknowledging Our Own Privilege

Why we need to start acknowledging our own privilege.

If you are reading this right now, it means you have access to our website. To technology. This puts you at an advantage to the up to 2.8 billion people worldwide with no access to the internet, meaning you have socio-economic privilege.

But what is privilege?

Imagine a race where everyone has a different starting line. Behind the line, there are the women, the people of colour, the poor: the minorities. But allowed a headstart is the men, the white people, the rich: the majorities. This is an analogy for our current social system, the same system that allows men to wear whatever they want. The one that permits the rich to get richer. One that enables white people to escape Western justice systems.

The dictionary definition of privilege is “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group.” This right is something that has been embedded into the foundations of modern-day society. It enables certain people to get through life doing things that others would face consequences for. Put simply, it allows people to get to the finish line faster and easier.

However, just because someone has privilege does not mean they have an easy life. The acknowledgement of structural oppression should not create labels or preconceptions. The recognition of privilege should not be done with the intent to divide society. Nor should it be done to establish some distorted sense of superiority. But it is important to confess to what we have been given. It is only once we are able to establish the inequalities within our lives that we will be able to amend them.

You may be wondering, how do I know if I have privilege?

To begin with, let us look at perhaps the prominent form of privilege both today and throughout the course of history: Male privilege. Male privilege is what allows men to walk down the street at night wearing essentially whatever they want without having to fear for their lives. Male privilege is the reason that a large majority of leadership positions are primarily filled by men. Male privilege is the ability to express emotions freely without being told that it’s because you’re a woman. Accordingly, if you are a male, you must acknowledge that you are in a societal position that allows you a head-start to women around you. You are automatically taken more seriously and allowed more opportunities. Therefore, it is your obligation to admit this. Once the men within society are able to understand the advantages they have been handed, more awareness can be raised on the significance of this issue. It is only then that problems such as the gender wage gap, harassment, and the availability of jobs for women can be discussed and progression can be made.

Similarly, another form of privilege is white privilege. Although living in the Middle East, this may only seem like a Western problem, this could not be farther from the truth. White privilege surrounds us. It is the reason our children’s books convey predominantly white characters and the reason we grew up watching movies that feature mainly white casts. White privilege is the privilege of having grown up with role models who look like you. White privilege is the advantage you are given when both the media and the people that surround you do not make violent assumptions about you based on your race. Thus, if you are a person who has white privilege, critiquing the very system that has made you feel worthy, accepted, and that has granted you opportunities is vital. The system is designed to benefit certain people and it is not until those people are willing to put their foot down that these issues will be regarded seriously.

In the Middle East, for example, Arabs have privilege. This is because they are the majority. However, within this understanding, one must consider various other factors that affect one’s privilege. These include things like one’s religion and its sects, sexual orientation, class and gender. A straight, Arab, Muslim woman has more privilege in our society than a homosexual, non-Arab, non-muslim man. This is regardless of the fact that he is a man and she is a woman. However, if that woman were to have a brother, he would have more privilege than her. He would be able to do things that she cannot, like go out unaccompanied at night and feel safe.

This is why acknowledging privilege is so very complicated. It is not a matter of black and white. Rather, it is an ever-unfolding grey topic with many layers and substance between the lines.

Privilege comes with religion. If your religion is officially recognized, you are fortunate. If you are given Eid, Christmas, Hanukkah or other religious holidays off, you are at an advantage over those who have to work on their holy days of celebration.

Privilege comes with class. The closer you are to the top 1%, the more doors you will have open for you as you walk through life. Going to a private school means that you are more likely to get into university with ease than someone who goes to a public school. Therefore, it will be less challenging for you to get a job.

Privilege comes with ability. The more places you can physically access, the more opportunities you will be able to attain. If you are able to live alone, you will achieve new things with more ease.

Privilege comes with age. Both those ‘too young’ and ‘too old’ are not taken seriously and disregarded. The youth are told they are inexperienced whilst the elderly are considered inefficient.

Privilege comes with IQ. We live in a world where numbers define one’s self-worth. Privilege is given to the academically successful.

Privilege comes with being the beauty standard. Fitting in with a culture’s beauty norm means you are given a bias that reinforces social inequalities and allows you certain benefits.

Privilege encompasses us.

Acknowledging our own privilege is not easy. It can only come after a long period of self-reflection. Accepting the fact that perhaps where you are today is a result of the advantages you have been given is not something you will feel comfortable doing. However, reflecting on both the privileges that you have and the privileges that you don’t is the only way that we can actively strive for equality. Otherwise, we are taking advantage of the aspects of a structurally oppressive system that benefit us.

By Tamara Almoayed 12F