Privilege 

In recognition that certain components of one’s identity are actively marginalized in society, presenting barriers that inhibit their success in society, privilege is used to describe identity components that do not pose a problem, or as great of a problem. Privileges manifest and intersect in many different ways, and how it impacts people depends on context. 

Another way of explaining privilege is to think about all the things that have made one’s life difficult, all the hardship that one has had to go through for things that they had no control over. Did you grow up with a single parent? Did you grow up poor? Did you grow up in a rural community with limited opportunities? Did you grow up unable to speak the dominant language or not taken seriously because of your accent? Through the wide variety of hardships that you have experienced, which components of your identity did not make things harder, or even on occasion, made things easier? It is through these identity components that you hold privilege. Examples of types of identity that can afford an individual privilege include: race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, country of origin, language, and/or ability.

Sometimes misunderstandings of the impacts of privilege can lead to oppression Olympics:

Speaking about privilege with team members, clients, or in critical self-reflection can be an uncomfortable and laborious process. Acknowledging that one holds privilege requires the recognition that one’s accomplishments may not be solely based on merit, skill, or work ethic. Some key points to remember:

Having privilege does not have to determine who we are, and that taking action in recognizing and reacting to our privilege is within our control.

Privilege is not limited to race, and may take place for a number of different reasons. Just because someone may not benefit from one privilege, does not mean they don’t benefit from others.

Recognizing privilege is not to take away from one’s personal adversities or unique experiences; recognizing privilege or lack thereof intends to highlight how an individual who possesses certain attributes or abilities systemically experiences advantages or disadvantages in society.

Privilege depends on context. This is true for both understanding the impact of having or not having it, and the degree to which it influences an individual’s or group’s lived experience.

Privileges can intersect with other privileges. Not all people within a given group will experience a group privilege in the same way, and not all privileges are equal. How someone experiences privilege is dependent on their intersectional identities; individuals will experience systemic structures, systems, and societal attitudes in a way.