Sharing Privilege

The advantages that come with being part of a certain social group or having certain characteristics to your identity are called privilege. They can come with your race, gender, sexuality, wealth, abilities, religion and class among many other traits.

Generally, people are born into privilege and enjoy benefits they have no control over and never even asked for.

The functioning and inefficiencies of our social and economic systems are what give rise to privileges. To have these prerogatives does not mean that you don’t suffer hardships in life, neither is it a tool to disparage one’s achievements by stating “they had it easier”. It is merely a word that describes the unfair nature of society.

The problem arises when this privilege is overlooked because that would leave a system in dire need of equity to grow into a system of widespread inequality.

As mentioned above, privilege can be - racial, gender, socio-economic, religious etc. Here are some facts to highlight their prevalence today:

• A US federal government study showed that black students are three times more likely than white students to be suspended. 1

• As per the US Census Bureau (2014), individuals from the top family income quartile are 8 times more likely to obtain a bachelor’s degree by the age of 24 as compared to individuals from the lowest family income quartile. 2

• According to 2001 India Census data, 7% of the population over the age of 20 are graduates or hold diplomas, among the Muslim population, this rate is only 4%. Further, a report claims that unemployment rates among Muslims are the highest in comparison to other Socio-Religious Categories. 3

• A 2012 Yale study found that working from identical resumes distinguished only by names, both male and female science professors were more likely to hire men than women. When hired, the men’s salaries were $4000 more annually. 4

• LGB youth seriously contemplate suicide at roughly three times the rate for heterosexual youth and they are about five times more likely than heterosexual youth to have attempted suicide. 5 - 6

So what determines who gets to be privileged? Luck. A person is privileged purely by chance.

No one chooses where they're born or what traits they're born with.

The inequitable presence of these benefits is what leads to criminal activities, lawlessness, depression and anarchy which stem out of desperation when the disadvantaged feel helpless. Hence, a society that encompasses ‘welfare for all’ as its objective is more likely to be safer, happier and healthier. The implementation of such an objective is solely dependent on the cooperation and actions of its members, i.e. us.

This is why ‘sharing our privilege’ becomes important. Providing the same opportunities that you were born into to a less advantaged person is the best way to foster equity.

Although the tax system is designed to redistribute income—allocating it from the richer to the poor—the incompetence of the system does little to enhance opportunities for people in need.

So what are some ways that we can share our privilege?

Donations and financial support are great ways to help out if you earn a steady income, but for a lot of us, this might not be possible. We can make simpler contributions. For example, if you speak fluent English, you can impart this skill to someone who doesn’t have the resources to learn by themselves. This can easily improve their employment opportunities.

Further, if your mental health is sound and you believe you can lend an ear to listen to another person, go ahead and do that.

Becoming more conscious of your own privilege will enable you to understand what makes others disadvantaged, consequently, your contributions will create a more inclusive and fair society with minimal crime and maximum welfare.