The term privilege has become more and more commonplace amongst those engaged in social and political discussion. Privilege is defined as a “special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.”
The origins of the term privilege can be traced back to the 1930s, when Web Dubois wrote about the “psychological wage” that allowed whites to feel superior to black people. In 1988, Peggy McIntosh presented the idea of privilege in a paper called White Privilege and Male Privilege: A Personal Account of Coming to See Correspondences through Work in Women’s Studies. Privilege is the opposite of oppression, and while oppression is often easier to identify, it is important to recognize privilege to ensure we are both less biased in our opinions, and able to listen and attempt to identify with those who have been (or are currently) oppressed.
The concept of recognizing one’s privilege has been the point of some debate between left and right wing schools of thought. Essentially, checking one’s privilege is to put oneself in someone else’s shoes, and become informed of the issues facing the other group, before creating an opinion on the issue. Often we think of privilege as “special advantages.” We frequently hear the phrase, “X is a privilege, not a right,” conveying the idea that X is something special that shouldn’t be expected. Because of the way we use “privilege” in our day-to-day lives, people often get upset when others point out some of their privileges.
Privilege is a result of everyday power structures in our society, meaning that privilege is most commonly used to describe groups of people; men have privilege over women, white people have privilege over those of other races. This is not to say, however, that all men or all white people have not experienced hardships or oppression of their own. A secondary concept called “intersectionality” is the idea that oppression is connected. Sexism, racism, classism, and ableism, for example, should be approached as interconnected issues.
Many people are caught up in the misconception that having privilege means you have had an easy life. This is not true. Just because you have privilege, it does not mean you haven’t experienced suffering, or that you have not worked hard for what you have. It simply means you are not part of a group that is a target of social oppression.
Countless people become defensive or guilty when presented with their privilege – that is to miss the point completely. The point of checking your privilege is to recognize that while everyone experiences hardships and difficulties, and, to some extent, oppression, the current social structures in society mean certain groups of people experience greater oppression than others. To recognize your privilege is to join in the dismantling of the systems that contribute to oppression. Privilege is not something you can choose, however, you can choose to use your privilege to be a voice for those who are marginalized. You can actively decide to use your position of power, and aid in the ultimate goal of equality.
Jennifer Hamilton is a local student and writer.
