a few non-exhaustive words about privilege

[sophiaserpentia]

A friend pointed me to this list of privilege the other day. Quoting bits which are relevant to frequent discussion in this journal:

privilege is consistently responding to disagreement, criticism, and concerns with condescension and hostility, then accusing the unprivileged of being irrational, inconsistent, duplicitous, guileful, and unappeasable

privilege is feeling entitled to the conformity in behaviours and attitudes of the unprivileged

privilege is not having to be self-conscious and self-critical

privilege is the habit of seeking power and influence over others

the privileged sees power over others as success

privilege is the ability to start, end, and avoid discussion with little consequence

privilege is shelter from direct consequences

privilege is feeling entitled to be better off than others

I want to add a few of my own:

Privilege means not having to wonder, ever, if people around you are regularly putting your needs ahead of theirs.

Privilege means being able to laugh at certain kinds of joke instead of being aware of your inferiority.

Privilege means not having to worry about the effects of your words or actions.

Edit. It was correctly pointed out that this list reflects the automatic assumption or perhaps assertion-by-default of privilege.

Comments

[laeva.livejournal.com]

I think I can put this even more succinctly: it is a privilege to be able to take lightly, to ignore, or to remain completely ignorant of the hardships of another. Most of us have this privilege to some degree. All of us experience some hardships. But there are also very visible patterns of suffering that occur in the lives of entire groups of people. Such groups do not suffer because of some innate trait, but because of the way this trait or traits is characterized, acted upon, and reacted upon within the context of society. When these acts are systematized, and when they create or amplify suffering, this is oppression. It can be malicious or unintentional or even well-intended. This does not alter its nature.

I hope that makes some sense.