The Piedmont Highlander

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The Piedmont Highlander

The Piedmont Highlander

Unpacking the invisible backpack of privilege

Unpacking+the+invisible+backpack+of+privilege

Step forward if your parents received a higher education. Step back if you are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer.” The list went on as I found myself taking significantly more steps forward than backward.

We were making a privilege line, an activity done at Camp Everytown, spreading out based on where each of us stood on the spectrum of privilege. At the end of the activity, I was told to take a look around at the people near me and far away from me.

I turned around and was shocked to see people pushed up against the trees at the far end of the clearing. There stood the boy who started right next to me, now at the least privileged end of the group.

Thinking about the meaning of the exact spot where each individual stood, two ideas hit me at once. Firstly, I go to school everyday with other students who I tend to assume have lots of privileges, but in reality, attending a Piedmont school does not make people privileged in every way. Secondly, I realized how lucky I am and that I should never take what I have for granted but instead take time to understand my privileges.

When we are born, we have predetermined privileges and disadvantages that have the power to influence us for the rest of their lives. We cannot control them, but we can become aware of what privileges we have and use those advantages to better our community and help others.

Although people tend to associate privilege most strongly with race, gender, sexual orientation, the background and education of one’s parents and economic status are just a few of all the qualities that can influence privilege.

IMG_2869Having certain privileges does not mean that a person does not work hard or has never faced challenges, but it  means they may not have to worry about what others might have to deal with everyday.

It may not be easy to notice those less fortunate, and this is why it can be so hard to realize what privileges you have. If individuals do not have to worry about a certain inequality, they can live their lives without ever thinking about it. Another person may have to worry about being treated differently or stripped of certain rights everyday.

In Piedmont, lots of students see themselves as privileged, myself included, but it is important to take a moment to think about what that means on a daily basis to become more appreciative for the advantages we have.

My family fairly well-off economically, therefore I do not have to worry about whether there will be food to eat when I get home. My parents both went to graduate school and speak English fluently, so if I ever need help on homework I am assured that they will be able to assist me.

On the other hand, I am a person of color in a predominantly white community and because of this, I do not share a similar cultural background with the majority of PHS students. In addition, I sometimes wonder if I am being treated differently because of my race.

Since an abundance of influences like race, gender and family life shape a complex spectrum of advantages and disadvantages, privilege is not the one-dimensional binary that labels like “privileged” or “disadvantaged” imply.

In addition, an individual’s voice may be louder due to the privileges they have, and they can use their position, status or accessibility to convey messages that may not have been heard otherwise.

It is most likely impossible to be aware of every privilege one has, but the important part is trying to see the ways in which you are at an advantage compared to others and to use those advantages to help others.

Disadvantages that come from qualities such as race, gender or age can become barriers that distort or completely obscure someone’s voice because of who they are.

This is why it sometimes takes someone with certain qualities that society deems as advantages to advocate for others in a way in which the general population actually hears and acknowledges.

But before this can happen, you have to take time to think about how you may be at an advantage over others just because of who you intrinsically are. Once you do this, get your voice out into the world and use what power you, as an individual, have to speak up and create change.

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