The thing about privilege is that most people don’t understand they have it. With a limited viewpoint on the world and the inability to experience a life different from your own, it’s common to never think twice about what parts of your life might be considered privileged.
For example, in America, being able to afford a higher education would be a privilege when compared to generations before today, because while the cost of higher education has risen by 3,009 percent since 1969, the average family income since that time has gone down. In 1969, the average cost of a four-year public university was $329. That average is $10,230 today and when adjusting for inflation brings the value of $329 in 1969 is equal to $2,374.51 in 2021. As you can see, these numbers show a bit of a problem. Student debt is now over $1 trillion. This isn’t the only area of privilege, but it does create an excellent example of how it affects everyone. Despite the fact that some of us may never have recognized that we have privilege, data shows that it exists.
Being cognizant of privilege and challenging it is a constant exercise. Personally, placing it in the forefront of my thoughts and learning to challenge my position in the world is strange and sometimes confusing. Being forced to realize that not everyone shares the same opportunities or is guaranteed the same treatment based on uncontrollable factors is uncomfortable, but necessary. I think a larger issue surrounding privilege stems from misunderstanding of what privilege is. Quite often, people tend to get defensive, citing their own personal struggles as a testament that they could not possibly be privileged. As a straight, white, male, I have been taught that privilege is something that puts me at an advantage when compared to other people. It can be easy to view that information as someone accusing you of being “better” than others and devaluing any hardships in your life that may have led you to where you are today. That makes sense, as everyone wants empathy towards their life’s struggles.
I find that it is important to point out that a person can have privilege and go through hardships in their life. These things do not take away from each other. Someone could have the privilege of being white in a society that statistically supports white supremacy, but also be in poverty. The privilege of being white does not take away from the hardships of being poor, because even though being poor limits opportunities, the privilege of being white means that any disadvantages that come from being nonwhite will not also be a disadvantage.
Creating an open dialogue where the goal is not to defend but instead to understand is important when trying to have a conversation about privilege. Everyone has privilege to some degree, even though some may have more than others. By being aware of our privileges as individuals, we can recognize ways to use our privilege to help people more disadvantaged than us and collectively work for more social justice.