How to check your privilege

[magenta]

I saw this a couple of weeks ago, and there are variations circulating. Took me a while to assess and write.

Race

You have a much higher salary because of your race. - nope, highest salary ever was about $30k/yr, mostly worked at what was considered “skilled clerical”, i.e. library aide, clerk, etc. I don't have a library science degree. Even if I did, I would not make a high salary. I worked places that had anti-discrimination rules in place, but I don't know how well they were enforced.

Most positive advertisements are geared towards you. Possibly, but less and less, a trend I am very glad to see.

You feel protected by police. Never have. I grew up Jewish. Cops=Cossask.

Gender

Your gender represents the only or the majority of executive positions at work. Working in libraries, most of my bosses were female. The people who controlled the money were often male.

People don’t blame your mood because of your gender. I'm not sure.

Your appearance (clothing, etc.) doesn’t set a precedent for how you’re treated. Not only do I present as female, I have never felt like I was female, and tended to wear as much male clothes as I could, for both physical and psychological comfort.

Physical ability

Everywhere you go is accessible. Not these days, with my arthritis. And I have been aware of accessibility issues for a very long time.

You don’t notice if there’s closed captioning available. I have for quite a while, because I have Deaf friends, and these days, because my hearing is not what it used to be.

Employers will not question if you can physically perform a job. See “clerical work”- I had to be able to lift a certain amount, stand for long periods of time. I had to retire early because of policies that required me to shelve books, which became painful.

Religion

Your religion is not demonized in the news or mainstream culture. Quite the opposite, went from one demonizd religion, Judaism, to another Witchcraft. I am not now nor have I ever been a Christian.

You don’t have to request time off for your religious holiday because it’s already on a calendar or acknowledged widely. Nope, see above.

People will recognize your religion without having to ask more information about it. Again, nope. Stopped talking about being a Witch to strangers because I got tired of explaining.

Sexual orientation

You can openly show affection to your partner in public without worry. I am lucky as a bi woman with a male partner.

The media portrays more couples similar to yours. These days, yep.

You’re not rejected by family or friends based on who you love. I am fairly lucky about this, not only because I have a male partner, but also I am not the only queer person in my family.

Health

Your doctor believes your symptoms the first time. You have access to adequate medical care including healthcare and fully staffed and stocked hospitals. You are unafraid to see a doctor.

Depends on the symptoms, but I do not feel listened to. Some of that is the medical industrial complex that for example, only allows me to discuss one problem or symptom per visit. And I am afraid to see a doctor, partly because I have been verbally abused and misled by doctors.

Socioeconomic level

If you want it, you can buy it. What is “it”? I could afford to buy another set of sheets at Target when I found one sheet had large tears (I have a cat) On the other hand, I am driving a 12 year old car.

You have quick access to healthy food options. Yes, Aldi nearby.

You can afford to pay your rent/mortgage, utilities, car payment, etc. Yes

You have a career versus multiple jobs. Not really, but some of that was my choices.

You can go to college without leaving with a ton of debt. Only because I was going to college in the 1970's and early 1980's.

Summary

I know I have privilege because of my white skin; some of that is taken away by being female. I have a lot of privilege these days just because I am not living paycheck to paycheck.