Privilege

Privilege Definition

Privilege can be a sensitive topic to discuss. We can define privilege as:

When concerning privilege, there are a few concepts we should understand first. For starters, all of us are members of several social groups.

We are all members of several social groups. This can be based on our race, gender, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or socioeconomic status -- the list goes on! Another concept we should understand is ingroup vs. outgroup.

Ingroup refers to members that belong to our social group while outgroup refers to members that do not belong to our social group.

Can you think of the social groups you belong to? How many ingroups can you count?

There are two things to keep in mind when considering what privilege:

1. The key word here is unearned. Privileges are the opportunities or advantages that you have that you did not have to work for, but were granted due to your social groups or affiliations.
2. There is always another side of the coin to privilege -- where some gain, others lose. The opposite of privileged may be disadvantaged or, in extreme cases, oppressed.

Privilege Definition: The Systems That Create It

One thing we haven't considered yet is, who sets these rules. Who decides which social groups get an advantage over others? Privilege is the product, unintentionally or intentionally, of one of the following three systems:

• Individual: personal attitudes, actions, or behaviors an individual has towards or against a social group. Example: Your math teacher has a closer relationship with those in Mathletes and unintentionally called on them more in class.
• Institutional: laws, policies, rules, and norms put in place by social institutions and organizations that grant advantages to some social groups and disadvantages to others. Example: The government passes a law that grants free health care to people with green eyes.
• Societal/Cultural: social norms, expectations, roles, or rituals that reinforce beliefs that one social group is superior to others. Example: TV shows often portray males in leadership positions, reinforcing male privileges in the workplace.

Privilege vs. Rights

An opportunity is considered a privilege if some people have something others don't. Other opportunities, however, are those that every person has and should be given. These opportunities are our rights. Distinguishing the difference between privilege vs. rights is important.

According to the United Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), there are 30 basic human rights such as the right to freedom, the right to work, and the right to life, liberty, and security.

Fig. 1, Human rights should be granted to every human being, Freepik.com

These are basic human rights that every individual should have. But sometimes, these rights aren’t always protected. Or, our rights are given to us based on where we live, the groups we belong to, or our nationalities. These are often assigned based on government policies, laws, or social constructs.

In a perfect world, everyone would have the rights they deserve. But unfortunately, having the rights you deserve can also be considered a privilege because it’s something people do not have (even though they should).

Privilege vs Targets of Oppression

People who do not have their basic human rights or who do not have as many opportunities as others are referred to as targets of oppression.

Dominant or nontarget groups can differ based on location. In the United States, here are some examples of dominant or nontarget groups:

• White people

• Males

• Heterosexuals

• Able-bodied people

• Middle-class or above

• Christians

• Middle-aged people

• English-speaking people

When systems or social constructs assign more power to a dominant group, it inevitably creates targets of oppression. When this occurs, equity is the best way to resolve the imbalance.

Making opportunities more equitable simply means that the privilege that some have and others don't is taken into account.

Fig. 2, equity can be seen in how people start a race, Freepik.com

Examples of Privilege

Privilege can creep into nearly every space, especially when there is more diversity. Here are a few examples of privilege you might see or even experience in the real world.

White Privilege

White privilege is a common type of privilege that can form the most harmful forms of oppression.

White privilege in America has become systemic. This means our systems, such as the government or education, are built to give white people more advantages than black, indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC). As a result, BIPOC often can't access basic needs and face discrimination.

Fig. 3, Protests were held to try and combat the unfair advantageous nature of society, Pixabay.com

For example, before the Civil Rights Movement, black Americans did not have the same rights as white Americans. They had different schools, pools, neighborhoods, and even water fountains, but they were not the same quality as white Americans through Jim Crow Laws. When the Civil Rights Act (1965) was passed, it legally protected all Americans' rights regardless of their skin color.

However, while this law was passed, white privilege still remains in the systems on which America is built. Even today, many people of color have been victims of police brutality simply because of the color of their skin.