Monday, December 17, 2012

Class and privilege - a primer

When I was working on my master's degree in social work, I had to take a "diversity" class as one of the basic requirements.  I was pretty pissed that I had to take it; I'd had all kinds of diversity stuff in my undergrad, I'd been in the field for some years, and I feared that it would be rubbish, as so many of these things are.  The instructor was fantastic, though, and I loved that class.  I was taking it with about 25 other students, most from other countries, and our conversations were fascinating. I learned about native peoples in Taiwan and Kenyan insults ("A hyena in sheep's clothing.")

There was also a lot of talk about privilege, which is not something I had ever thought about before, and the insights of the class have stayed with me.  I started to become aware of many ways in which I am privileged (and know there may be some ways of which i am not aware) and know that I have been afforded opportunities and blessings that would have have been available to someone less privileged.

If I try to talk to other people (of a similar background) about privilege, the usual response is a defensive one  - they become confused and frequently get defensive. They start to justify to me their success, or tell me about their struggles or how hard they've worked - they're not really willing to hear beyond that. I don't bring up privilege because I want to negate the work someone did to be who they are. Yet there is also an insidious and invisible barrier for some people that doesn't exist for others.

I found this checklist about social class privilege and it has some excellent examples of class privilege. It's an interesting list, and some of these things are eye-opening. It is not at all exhaustive, and some things may be more true than others, but I thought it was really good.

"Social Class Privilege Checklist; This list is based on Peggy McIntosh's article on which privilege.  These dynamics are but a few examples of the privilege which people form upper social classes have.  On a daily basis as an upper social class person...
1. I don't need to worry about learning the social customs of others.
2. The "better people" are in my social group.
3. It is likely that my career and financial success will be attributed to my hard work.
4. People appear to pay attention to my social class.
5. When I am shopping, people usually call me "Sir" or "Ma'am."
6. When making a purchase with check or credit card, my appearance doesn't create problems.
7. When I, or my children, are taught about history, people form my social class are represented in the books.
8. I can speak easily with my attorney or physician.
9. There are neighborhoods I can move to where I feel "at home."
10. There are places where I can be among those exclusively from my social class.
11. I can deny Social Class Privilege by asserting that all social classes are essentially the same.
12 Experts appearing on mass media are from my social class.
13. There are stores that market especially to people form my social class.
14. I can protect myself and my children from people who may not like us based on my social class.
15. Law enforcement officials will likely assume I am a non-threatening person once they see me and hear me.
16. Disclosure of my work and education may actually help law enforcement officials perceive me as being "in the right" or "unbiased."
17. I can speak easily to my child's college professors.
18. My citizenship and immigration status will likely not be questioned, and my background will likely not be investigated because of my social class.
19. I can be sure that my social class will be an advantage when seeking medical or legal help.
20. If I wish my children to attend private schools, I have a variety of options.
21. I can find colleges that have many people from my social class as students and that welcome me or my child.
22. If I apply for a prestigious job competing with people of a lower class, my social class will be to my advantage.
23. The decision to hire me will be related to my background and where I went to school.
24. When I watch TV or read the papers I can see people of my own class represented well.
25. The "newsmakers" are like me.
26. I deserve my status because of my accomplishments.
27. If I get offered a job over someone with more experience, it is because I deserve it.
28. My elected representatives share a similar background with mine.
29. Chances are, the person in charge in any organization is like me or is sympathetic to my status.
30. My child is never ignored in school, and if there are problems, I am called by the teacher or principal.
31. People are usually careful with their language and grammar around me."

I thought these are excellent examples of class privilege, though just the tip of the iceberg. What do you think? Do you think privilege affects your lives?