Peggy Knapsack provides a list of privileges. Continue this list, adding examples of race, gender, sexuality, disability, class, nationality, age, etc. privilege. You should give at least 10 examples and diverse examples, providing specifics examples with detail and depth. Conclude with a discussion of these privileges as they relate to your own experiences. Make sure you follow same format as her list
Last day to participate October 10
10 EXAMPLES
CES 101 
As an assignment to understand views on privileges, I was tasked with reading Peggy McIntosh’s “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack. I will define my definition of privileges and give examples of privileges based on gender, race, class, religion, sexual orientation and able bodied. Following these examples I will discuss my own experience and opinion on privileges.
Privilege is an unearned advantage that you inherit simply by being born into. It is not earned through hard work and dedication. Privilege is having better opportunities and entitlements. Privilege can be based on gender, class, sexual orientation, and race just to name a few. I cannot deny that there are some privileges to each of these.
Gender:
1. I can be pretty sure that if I cannot find my destination that I will be assisted.
2. I can wear a dress without being questioned or mocked at for clothing choice.
3. I can choose to have or not to have children.
Race:
4. I can see people of my race in any of activities that I am involved in.
Class:
5. I can be sure that I will never experience “dumpster diving”.
6. I am pretty sure that I have eaten more than my share of Top Ramen for dinner because our income barely covered the monthly bills .
Religion:
7. I can discuss my spiritual beliefs and most will have the same or understand them.
Sexual Orientation:
8. I can openly express verbally, emotionally and physically my sexuality without criticism.
9. I have social and religious acceptance with my sexuality.
Able Bodied/ Physical:
10. I can go to any house, store, apartment complex or other building and walk through the door without any aids or modifications.
This assignment was very difficult for me. As a white, lower middle class, able bodied, heterosexual, Christian female it made me realize that privileges do exist and in many forms. As stated previously, many are based on what is viewed as the norms in our society. Others are expressed by the media. And some are seen through personal experience. Some people believe it is earned because they are dominating over another social identity group. I believe that being aware of these privileges can not only give personal awareness but these views can effect others.
Gender:
1. I have the same opportunities in education as men and women in my school
2. I can marry whom I choose
3. I can dress however I want including style and colors
4. I have the right to try different sports in most cases
Race:
5. I am socially excepted where I live
6. I am not looked down upon because of my race or treated differently
Class:
7. I will always have the essentials and most likely have extra.
Religion:
8. I am free to practice which ever religion I want
9. I can share my beliefs
Sexual Orientation:
10. I can share my sexuality if I want to
Able Bodied/Physical:
11. I am not held down by any disabilities and can do any physical activity I please
When I think of privileges I automatically think of things that come with race but I never thought of disabilities. Just like I don’t earn my gender I don’t earn the body I was born with therefore I am privileged with a healthy body and am able to do and participate in many more things. Being a higher-middle class white Christian female I get a lot more privileges because my parents have earned them for me. I am living comfortably because they have worked hard to bring good money into the house. By listing these privileges I have learned that privileges come from everywhere, not just the color of your skin but also where you live, the way you were born, and the environment you are grown up in.
I agree with Haley’s statement that privilege comes from everywhere , it’s not just dependent on your race. If I had not grown up in the neighborhood that I did and didn’t have responsible parents who made sure that I stayed healthy and out of trouble, I would not be in the same place that I am today. Privilege is something that is unearned, however if someone who is not privileged grows up to be successful and healthy they can bestow privilege onto their own kids.
How is this about institutions and systems and not just individuals
Gender: sexual orientation Able bodided
1. I have never felt inferior to the opposite gender
2. I have received fairly equal opportunities and treatment as those of the opposite gender.
Race:
3. I have never been viewed as suspicious by authority
4. I have never been given a ticket even when I may have deserved one
5. I have never been discriminated against due to my appearance
Class:
6. I have never gone without food because it was not available to me
7. I have always been able to purchase necessities without worrying about monetary restrictions
Religion:
8. I am able to worship whatever I choose
Sexual Orientation:
9. My sexuality has never been questioned and I have never been ridiculed because of it
Able-Bodied:
10. I have never missed any opportunities because I was not physically able
This exercise was very difficult for me at times because privilege is something that is not earned. Reviewing my 10 personal examples I have realized that I would not be fortunate enough to even have these as examples if it was not for my parents. Realistically I am a broke college student, but I have been born into a good amount of privilege. As a straight white woman in upper middle class, I have not I have not had to experience many hardships in my life and have not been deprived of opportunities or experienced any discrimination. This exercise has really helped me to realize how little I have done to actually earn that privilege which I now realize I have.
Gender:
Gender:
1. I think that my gender has sometimes benefitted me when it comes to receiving special treatment. Whether it’s getting out of a situation where I am in trouble or someone offering me free merchandise.
Sexuality:
2. I have never been judged or criticized for being a heterosexual female.
3. I am free to marry whoever I want, wherever I want to get married.
Class:
4. Being in the upper middle class I have had many opportunities that have shaped me into the person I am today. I was put me on many different club sports teams and sent to different camps so that my skills would get better.
Also, I had the advantage of being able to travel and see different parts of the world growing up. Money was not something I had to worry about, I never had to wonder where my next meal was coming from.
Age:
5. I am still dependent on my parents they pay for my housing, medical bills, phone bill and food. At 20 years old I am a full time student and do not have a job or a source of income. My age is very beneficial to me because I don’t have to worry about paying the bills yet or taking care of someone else.
Able bodied:
6. There are no disabilities, mental or physical, that are holding me down. I am fully capable of moving and learning.
7. I have no form of disease or allergy. If I wanted to participate in any type of event nothing would hold me back.
Race:
8. I have never been watched or been seen as a suspicious character because of my race. This is unlike the scene from “what would you do” in class today where the young black men were accused of planning on stealing for sleeping in their car.
9. I am half Japanese and half Swedish, but I have blonde hair and blue eyes so I have never had to deal with derogatory comments about my race.
Religion:
10. I am free to practice whatever religion I want. My parents don’t have strong religious beliefs, so if I chose to believe in something different than they do they would support me.
All of the privileges that I’ve had, I’ve been lucky enough to have because of my parents. If I wasn’t born into the upper middle class and had such accepting, healthy, and loving parents my life would be much different. I am able to attend college, I am very healthy, and I am financially stable. Privilege is something that is not earned and most of the things that have come into my life have been awarded to me because of different types of privilege. Whether it’s sexuality, gender, or class I have unearned privileges that other people can’t have, which that seems very unfair to me. Even though I am half Japanese, I am also half Swedish so I have blonde hair and blue eyes. I have never had to deal with derogatory comments about my race or worry about being viewed as suspicious by the law. The privileges that I have had throughout my life have had an impact on where I’ve gotten and most likely where I will go.
Gender:
1. As a male I have experienced no difference in opportunities in my schools.
2. It would not be looked at in a positive light if I married a same sex person.
3. I can wear what I want and not be judged.
Race:
4. I am accepted where I live.
5. I am looked at as good in all sports involving running, jumping, and hitting.
6. I have been pulled over for just hanging out with my friends on non-private property.
Class:
7. I have missed days of eating to make sure my family has more money for things like groceries and bills.
8. I have had to make ten dollars last for a month.
Religion:
9. I don’t see it being accepted if I told everyone my view on religion.
Able Bodied/Physical:
10. Although my clavicle on my left side restricts my left arm because its broken I am able to do many physical activities without any aid.
I found it a little hard to do this assignment with me being a black male. I mean as a male it’s easy to see my privileges but besides that I really had to see what privileges I have as a person of color which is why some of these are not privileges but instead things that come with my black skin. It is also a bit sobering doing this because I notice how many privileges I do not have simply because the color of my skin but it is nothing new.
Gender
1. I am looked at as a strong figure because I am a male.
2. I would not be treated nicely if I were to be involved as a homosexual.
Race
3. Being white, I have not been looked at like some of my friends have.
4. My school was basically all white, therefore I was accepted there.
5. Football is a black dominated sport, and for my position in specific there are few white males that are successful.
Class:
6. I have been raised in an upper class society, therefore I have always been treated with respect.
7. My parents started from not very much, not going to college, and still are very successful.
8. People think I don’t have to work for thing like others do because I grew up in a nice, upperclass area.
Religion:
9. I come off as a christian due to my upbringings, and the stereotype of being a white male who wears a necklace, but in actuality it was just a gift from my grandmother.
10. Coming from a catholic school, people think I have been brought properly by Catholic parents, but neither of my parents are catholic, they just wanted me to be in a private school.
I can be looked at as spoiled due to living situation and the success my parents have, which is what many think of because my parents have money. But in reality, My parents started with almost nothing, and worked their way up to the top so they could give me the things they couldn’t have growing up. Both of my parents barely squeezed through high school, did not attend college for more then one semester, and still happen to work their way up to the middle/upper class society. My parents were raised by parents that made them work for what they got, and I have done the same thing since I have been alive.
Gender:
1. If I need assistance with my vehicle I can be assured that someone will pull over to help.
2. Police officers are often easier on me because of my gender
Sexual Orientation
3. I never have to worry about my sexual orientation being mocked or ridiculed
4. My sexual orientation was never revealed without my consent
Class
5. I have never had to worry about not being able to afford food
6. I never had to worry about being able to pay medical bills
Religion
7. I believe in a religion that is very common but also made fun of
8. I do not often tell people my views for fear of being judged
Able-Bodied
9. I was always able to participate in any sports or activities I wanted to
10. I lived without disease or serious illness throughout my whole life
11. My family was able to afford the surgery I needed to fix my spine
A privilege list is difficult to make, as I went through this list I realized how truly lucky I am to receive as many privileges as I do. As a female I believe there are many privileges but also many things that make it much harder. I am never second-guessed and police and authorities are often easier on me. It is much easier for a female to get out of a speeding ticket. On the other hand though as a female I constantly have to be aware of who is walking behind me, how late I walk alone, and finding a way home while also avoiding the dark alley. These things are often not even considered my men because they don’t go through these fears everyday. Being heterosexual I never have to even think out my sexual orientation, which is not true of non-heterosexuals. They often are ridiculed and put through things I can’t even imagine just because of their sexual orientation. As a kid I was very able bodied and able to participate in whatever sports I wanted. I was also paralyzed for about six months due to a spinal surgery, going through recovery I learned what it was like on the other side. I could not walk up the stairs, had to be pushed in a wheelchair and if there wasn’t a ramp I couldn’t go in. After about a year I have enough movement back to get around on my own and I could not be more thankful. Experiencing what it was like to have to worry constantly about whether or not you would be able to go somewhere or if there would be a ramp for you to get in is something most people don’t think about.. The privilege of walking and being able to jump into any activity you wanted was something that I lost and still have not fully regained. I will never take the privilege of able-bodied movement for granted again because like most privileges it is something that can all so quickly disappear. Privileges are not earned, therefore easily lost, making this list helped me to understand all of the privileges that I don’t even think about on a daily basis, its ironic that the people that don’t receive the privilege have to think about those things everyday while it may never even cross the privileged person’s mind.
Race:
1. Being a mixed race no one actually knows how to make fun of me because they do not know my race
2. There is no reason for my family to be discriminated in my neighborhood
3. Being mixed I can connect with darker skinned peers and white peers both
4. My father being white though has given me advantages because he makes the money in the family so him being white helps us
Religion:
5. I have never been forced to choose a religion even though I went to a private catholic school
6. Both my parents are catholic and that helped me attend that private catholic school which is far better academically than the public school I would have attended.
Class:
7. My family is upper middle class and that gave me the opportunity to attend a good high school. If my parents were not in this class I could not have attended. This goes for college too.
8. My father owns his own business and that has given me a summer job since I was about 11 years old.
9. I will always have a job if I want from my Dad or through one of my connections
10. If my father would not of had this business I would not have any job experience or more importantly just learning how to work.
11. I have always had food on the table and a car to drive.
12. I did not have to get a job during high school and that freed up time to play sports.
13. My parents came from poverty and they have taught me many lessons and stories from when they had nothing at all
14. I not only had food but got nutritious meals every day
Gender:
15. Being the first born son and only son is definitely an advantage in my family but my sister also gets benefit because she is the baby sister and only girl.
16. Being a male in college is an advantage at times because of the social life
17. Not having to watch what I eat or how I look as much as girls
Able Bodied:
18. I am able to keep my body working well by working out and eating right
19. I have nothing stopping me from running or having someone help me in a situation I am uncomfortable in.
Privilege is obviously a good thing. All of those things that I listed are a total plus and have helped me through my life. A privilege is an act or an opportunity that positively helps a person, for which they did not acquire because of merit or work. It is unfair to those who do not get the same privileges as others.
I have not been in the same situation as those who do not have those privileges I listed. But my thought about them is that you can both pout and whine that it is unfair, or you can work very hard and snatch up every opportunity you can to later earn privileges. My father is only one case out of millions but he is an example. My dad had 4 brothers and was born to single mom. He had bad dyslexia that was misdiagnosed and he was put in special educations classes. He was terrible in class but what he knew how to do is work. So that is what he did. You could say the rest is history, he owns a good business, real estate, an array of cars. But it is not that simple. Even though he has all these things he struggles every day with dyslexia and honestly can barely read and write. The moral of this is that even if you beat the odds and succeed against your disadvantages, there is always a fight to fight. And that is a good thing because what is life without struggle?
Gender:
1. I can fall in love and marry anyone no matter who I choose.
2. I can wear anything I want no matter the time and day. Being a male there is a different feeling of self-confidence because most guys could care less about how they look.
3. I don’t need to worry about wearing make up and looking good because I am a male.
4. I have more options in the work force. In average males get paid more than women because most work forces trust guys more.
5. I don’t have to worry about pregnancy or having a period.
6. I can be a president
Race:
1. More job opportunities (higher paid)
2. I am able to get away with more things that happen.
3. I am more likely to get a job other than a black male. (Getting a phone call)
4. I am less likely to be put down by other races
5. I am not looked down from upon because my race did not have a bad history.
6. I am less likely to be blamed as a criminal.
Disability:
1. They have more advantages (example: parking closest aka handicapped)
2. They get extra help
3. They are smarter in certain areas that we can’t see.
Nationality:
1. I know that I will be protected by all of the laws of the U.S.A
2. I can be employed as a white citizen no matter where I go in the U.S.
3. I can cross the border whenever with a passport.
4. I have the right to vote.
Sexuality:
1. I am able to receive social acceptance by neighbors, colleagues and good friends
2. I am able to have positive and accurate media images of people with who you can identify.
Age:
1. I am now a legal citizen (adult).
2. I can buy tobacco/lottery tickets.
Throughout my life I have seen and understood many privileges that have happened. This assignment was quite easy because my privileges are what I have witnessed. As a white male from this CES class I have learned many privileges that whites have and blacks don’t. Also many of my thoughts of each of these privileges have been showed on much media. The reason for that is because it is all around us. But now that I actually took time to think of all of my privileges that I have I am actually very fortunate to be a white male. I have never really had words or anything that has really affected my privilege of being a white man. I also feel discouraged and I feel bad for other races because the term equality should always be put to action.
Privilege is defined as an unearned benefit, something that you didn’t do anything to get, it was just given to you. There are many different types of privilege and each affects people differently. Personally I have my own privileges, and most I didn’t really realize I had until discussing it in class. I have privileges because of my parents and the things that they have accomplished, they have earned money and because of that money I was able to grow up in a way that I never realized was “privileged”. I have privileges because of they way that I look, my skin color and my gender. Being an older sibling has been a privilege, things that I didn’t realize have benefited me in ways that I didn’t even know existed.
Gender:
1. Sometimes I feel like I get treated differently because I am a female. For example, in high school, I got in trouble with a group of friends and all of the girls got out of our punishments but the boys didn’t.
2. Doors are held open for me, and I never have to lift anything heavy.
3. I am more trusted around children, I had a lot of little kids in my neighborhood at home and my mom would always volunteer my brother and I to babysit and almost all of them preferred me because their both children and them were “more comfortable” with a female babysitter.
4. I am less likely to be blamed or suspected for a crime
Race:
5. Sometimes people can’t really tell what race I am, so I don’t get a lot of racial jokes or slurs thrown at me very often. However, I do get asked what race or ethnicity I am a lot, which gets old.
6. I am half Mexican and half Chamorro (from Guam), when I am in an environment of mostly other Mexican or Hispanic people I am just assumed to belong there. I don’t get strange looks when I walk in the panaderia and grab some groceries like the white man who just left did.
7. I have scholarships that I can apply for that are only for my specific race, I also have many resources around campus to help me with various things just because of my race
Class:
8. With both of my parents working I have never had to go a day without food or worry about if/when my next meal will be.
9. I have the financial support from my family to put me through college
Sexuality:
10. Since I am straight, I don’t have to experience the hurtful and derogatory slurs directed at people who are homosexual
Age:
Being 18 you wouldn’t think there are a ton of privileges but I think being of legal age comes with not only privilege but great responsibility. Some people don’t really see you as an adult yet, but they also don’t really see you as a kid anymore either, but each mindset pertains to a certain situation and who is involved in the situation. Being able to vote, but tobacco products, own property, etc. can all be seen as privileges, but just like any other privilege, if it is abused there can be some issues. Being “of age” is a tricky privilege because not everyone sees it the same way or takes it seriously. For example if you get in trouble, some cops might let you off with a warning because they think you’re still just a kid and are figuring out how to deal with things, on the other hand another cop has no problem writing you a ticket or cuffing you because they see it in that if you are going to make stupid decisions as an adult, you can deal with the consequences like an adult.
How are the gender privileges you note rooted in patriarchy?
Race:
1. People claim I’m white because of my skin color.
2. I can connect to any race and feel comfortable with them.
3. Both my parents are from Mexico and shouldn’t be discriminated because of their ethnicity.
4. My parents being foreign gave me an opportunity to achieve in school and become a first generation graduate.
Age:
5. I am considered an adult since I’m 18.
6. Doesn’t matter if you’re tall or short, age is what matters.
Religion:
7. I am not forced to be in a specific religion.
8. Catholic is my main religion based on my parents and ancestors.
Education:
9. My parents worked hard to keep me in school and to help me succeed.
10. If it wasn’t for my parents, I wouldn’t be a first time graduate and wouldn’t go to college.
This assignment was pretty easy because there are many privileges that people have or don’t have. I am a Mexican-American and my parents had unearned privileges since they were from a different race and are from a lower class. Our society sees more privileges on whites than blacks, better opportunities for whites than blacks, and better wealth for whites than blacks. For me, being the only child gave me a privilege to do better in school and the opportunity to succeed in college. My parents working very hard for me is an opportunity and cannot reject the opportunity. I didn’t realize that privilege benefited me for my education and opportunity to succeed in my education.
After reading Peggy McIntosh’s “An Invisible Knapsack”, I, as mixed Black and White American male who has grown up for an extensive period of my life overseas feel inclined to respond with a list of inherent privileges that people of either side of my “race”, my gender, my physical aptitude, or middle-class upbringing naturally receive or are inhibited from receiving.
1.) Only a white person is permitted in today’s society to voice their views or opinions – or act in any way they wish for that matter – without the inherent fear of representing their entire race.
2.) Only a white person does not have to worry that when they express their views, people will immediately agree with whatever they say simply because they want to get into their pants and/or to avoid offending them.
3.) Only a white person is permitted to engulf himself in whatever culture he wishes without shattering the widely held stereotypes of those he encounters, subsequently causing them to reject and ostracized from not only members of other groups, but from their own group as well.
4.) Only a white person can speak in class with confidence in the knowledge that everyone there expects him to say something intelligent and worth hearing.
5.) Only a white person can walk in public without having to take actual measures to make themselves appear less intimidating and threatening; white people are the only race that can wear something as simple as a hoodie without being judged as a potential criminal or assailant.
6.) Only a white person can look back on their history and feel a sense of superiority due to the knowledge of their race’s previous enslavement and segregation of those of color; they are born with the idea that this somehow makes them better.
7.) Only a white person can speak to a police officer with the knowledge that the policemen genuinely is there to protect and serve THEM, and not to look for any opportunity to put them behind bars where they believe that we BELONG.
8.) Only a white person can have any lawbreaking, temper-related, or violent act attributed to his personal “bad choice”, as opposed to being a representative of his/her entire race.
9.) Only a white person is capable of hearing commonly known stereotypes with the knowledge that not one of them attributed to him/her is truly capable of inhibiting their success; that is, every stereotype attributed to white people is associated with a lack of physical ability and NEVER has anything to do with their intelligence, potential for success, wealth, or aptitude for family values.
10.) Only a white person’s physical fitness cause those around him/her to view them as simply being more attractive and healthy; the result of any other race possessing a high physical standard simply causes those around them to not only fear them, but assume that they are violent, brutish, uncivilized, potentially gang related, and, most of all, devoid of any intelligence or benefit to society whatsoever.
Every privilege that I have outlined previously are amongst the myriad of those I have experienced in my life. The underlying theme of each point I outlined was that of white privilege, and I did this for a number of reasons. For one, there are very few privileges prescribed to social groups that cannot be associated with race, and subsequently that white people do not somehow benefit from. For example, even when there is a stereotype that might appear to negatively describe white people, it is always something that actually reinforces racial stereotypes. For instance, the white people are more commonly attributed with inferior physical capabilities; this only reinforces the racial stereotype that races such as black people are only good at sports for stereotypical reasons such as they are genetically closer to animals or that black people are there solely for the entertainment of white people. Never are white people associated with poverty, a lack of intelligence, or, essentially, anything that will inhibit their future financial success.
Gender
1. I can marry whom I choose by myself.
2. I have fundamental right same as men like suffrage.
3. I can go to school and study with both men and women.
4. I can dress what I want.
5. I can decide whether I have children or not.
Class
6. I had never gone to school without food.
7. I can put education before working.
8. My parents can pay medical bills, so I can always keep being healthy.
Sexuality
9. I had never seen as weird and I am always welcomed.
10. I don’t need to worry about my children.
11. I don’t have difficulty of finding neighborhoods.
Race
12. I had never been discriminated by others.
13. I can be educated with other races.
I am an Asian heterosexual female. I am not so rich but I didn’t worry about money. This assignment is a little harder for me because I had never considered about my privilege. As I am a female, I didn’t have big difficulty. However, I guess I will challenge it when I will get a job because there are differences between men and women in my country. It is easier for men to get higher salary and position than women. In addition, even though I am an Asian, I didn’t feel uncomfortable in the US. I can do anything what I want to do here and I had never been looked down by others. Therefore, I made this list.
Race:
1. Very, very rarely are whites discriminated by their race. It has been demonstrated that throughout history, whites are the ones discriminating others. This becomes ingrained in society, so whites are seen as powerful people.
Gender:
2. I have the same rights as men, such as Title IX in sports (where there has to be an even amount of sports teams for men and women, allows women to play football, etc).
3. Women are never expected to be the one to ask the person they are interested in out on a date.
Sexuality:
4. Heterosexuals can marry whomever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want.
Disability:
5. People without disabilities can access pretty much anything available to them. They can use the stairs, any bathroom stall or shower whenever they need to.
Class:
6. Being in a middle/working class family, my parents can afford to send me to college, I have never gone hungry and I have a roof over my head.
Age:
7. Being 18, I have the right to vote. It’s up to me to be educated on who the candidates are and what they stand for.
8. I can legally emancipate myself from my parents if I really wanted to.
9. When you are 18, it is socially acceptable to make decisions on your own.
Religion:
10. Christianity is one of the most practiced religions in the world. I feel comfortable practicing my religion where I live because I know that a bunch of people around me probably have the same beliefs I do.
I have a pretty darn easy life. I can basically do whatever I want if it does not harm someone in the process of doing so. Being a woman is helpful with the career I want to get into. I want to be a sportscaster, and there are not many women in that field. Networks can show they are diverse by hiring women to report on the sidelines. I can marry any man I want to and I don’t have to deal with any fuss about it. It doesn’t matter if I really love him, just as long as the person I am marrying is a man. I do not have a physical or mental disability. I can use ramps, I can pay attention in class without medications, etc.
Gender:
1. Because of my gender it is more likely for people to offer me assistance if I need it.
2. I can dress however I want and not be judged.
3. I can choose to marry whoever I want.
Race:
4. Because of my race I am not immediately judged or stereotyped.
5. Since I am white, wherever I go I am treated kindly.
Class:
6. I was raised in the upper-middle class so a lot of the people I meet/know do not treat me differently.
7. My mom gave me the opportunity for higher education by attending private Catholic school for grade school until high school.
8. Being in the upper-middle class I have always had the essentials and good health care.
Religion:
9. I can practice any religion that I choose.
10. I can share my beliefs with others if I choose to do so.
Being raised in the upper middle class, being white and attending a private school has its ups and downs. Because of my up-bringing, some people think that I am spoiled and that my parents did not earn the benefits that they have attained over the years. Since I went to a private Catholic school for most of my life, others think that we go to church all the time and believe that it is not okay that we take religion courses. The truth is, many students from my school were not even Catholic, some were not even a religion, they just wanted to have a higher education at a private school. My parents have worked hard for what they have attained and I have tried to do the same.
Gender:
I can get things for free easily because I’m seen as an attractive, young female.
I am assisted with tasks often and can get out of a lot of heavy work.
I have the ability to bring a life into the world or the choice not to.
Race:
I am never seen as threatening or suspicious because I am white.
It’s easier for me to get a job because of my race.
I have never felt out of place or in a minority.
Class:
I’ve never had to worry about where my next meal is coming from.
I was well-nourished growing up and had access to organic foods.
I have been well-educated.
I’ve always had access to medical and dental care.
I have always had my own car.
Healthy/Able-bodied:
I have always been able to do whatever activity I wanted.
I can get wherever I need to go unassisted.
My work options are nearly unlimited since I can physically handle potential job requirements.
Sexual Orientation:
I’ve never been judged or laughed at for being straight.
I can openly talk to my friends and family about my relationships.
Though I am often aware of my privileges, making this list opened my eyes to just how many I have and how many more I have that I can’t put into words. Being on crutches for awhile this year opened my eyes to the privilege of having a healthy, able body. I couldn’t carry anything by myself, couldn’t get to class without help, struggled up and down 3 flights of stairs in a sorority that is not handicap accessible, and felt out of place enough that I didn’t want to go to any events during homecoming week. While this was merely a minor inconvenience for me, it made me stop and look around at everyone who was severely or permanently handicapped. For example, a guy I met in the WSU access van was born with such short, bowed legs that he needed crutches for the rest of his life just to walk. Another guy I met broke his back ski racing and would be in a wheelchair for the rest of his life. Meanwhile there I was, upset that I couldn’t walk yet or go to the gym for 3 weeks. I stopped and looked at them and realized just how lucky I was that I am normally able to walk and run whenever I want. So many privileges we all take for granted until we are forced to see it from someone else’s eyes.
Race:
1.Being a white female I can easily get through security without being questioned at the airport or concerts.
2. I have never been viewed as suspicious or harmful.
Gender:
3. I have received special treatment under the saying of, “ladies first”.
4. I never have to worry about walking home alone at night.
5. I have an easier time getting out of situations such as the police.
Sexuality:
6.My sexuality has never been questioned.
7.I can talk openly talk about my sexuality with my family and friends and not be judged.
8.I have never been made fun of or looked down upon for being straight.
Class:
9. I never have to worry about financial issues.
10. I have been provided with a high education.
Able bodied:
11. I have never not been allowed to play a sport.
I have been very blessed to come from an upper middle class family. With this I have been fortunate to not have money troubles. Even though I do not have to worry about money my parents still made me work to earn certain privileges. A few examples are getting my ears pierced and getting my own used car, which I finally earned eight months after I got my license when all of my friends go a brand new car on their sixtieth birthdays. Which was hard at first but then I realized how lucky I was to even own a car. The fact that my parents make me earn different items that I really want, even though I do not agree with them at the time, it makes it so much more enjoyable and grateful because you earned it. I also have always been able to play any sport that I have ever wanted, which I take for granted sometimes. Also, with being white and a young female I have been able to get out of certain situations easier than say someone of a different race or gender might not have it as easy. I also have never been judged for my sexuality and my family is very open and non judgmental or racist, which I am very lucky to have grown up in this environment. This assignment really was eye opening and made me really think and reevaluate how privileged I truly am. I have no room to ever complain and reflecting back through everything I have learned a lot about myself and at times it makes me feel embarrassed to talk about this because it makes me sound like I have it so easy, when in reality that is not true at all due to other I could not talk about. Everything is fighting different struggle whether they show it or not. I feel so fortunate in many different ways and will not take any privileges that I have for granted ever again.
Gender:
-I never have to worry about the pains of bearing a child for 9 months and giving birth.
-I get a higher paycheck than my female peers if we have the same job
Race:
-As I am a Singaporean chinese male, I never faced racism in Singapore as I was part of the majority.
Sexuality:
-I never had to question my sexuality.
-I was never made fun of for being straight
Class:
-I never had to worry about a lack of food
-I never had to worry about next month’s rent
-I have been provided with the ability to pursue higher education in another country.
Disability:
-I never had to struggle to get to class everyday as I do not have a disability that impedes my daily functions.
– I do not suffer from any allergies that will prevent me from enjoying the little things such as peanuts or eggs (cake)
I am extremely privileged in the fact that I was born into a middle class family that is able to pay for my overseas education. In Singapore, all men 18 years old or older are made to undergo national service (mandatory military training), and we have had the privilege of going overseas for training and we get paid more as a result if we were to find jobs. I have never had a license before, and it is mostly due to the fact that I never had to worry about finding transport. I have never faced discrimination in the US, which has made my experience here a pleasant one. I was amazed at the statistics that we learnt about the injustices and discrimination that the minority races in the US face everyday. This made me think about how lucky I am in Singapore, where we are generally multicultural, and I have never seen actual discrimination in my life. This assignment has made me think of the ‘harmless’ racist jokes that comedians on television and I make, and that by dehumanizing the stereotypes, we are actually promoting racism indirectly. I realize how privileged I am, and I will do my best to not take things for granted.
1. I can fall in love and marry anyone no matter who I choose.
2. I can wear anything I want no matter the time and day. Being a male there is a different feeling of self-confidence because most guys could care less about how they look.
3. I don’t need to worry about wearing make up and looking good because I am a male.
4. I have more options in the work force. In average males get paid more than women because most work forces trust guys more.
5. I don’t have to worry about pregnancy or having a period.
6. I can be a president
Race:
1. More job opportunities (higher paid)
2. I am able to get away with more things that happen.
3. I am more likely to get a job other than a black male. (Getting a phone call)
4. I am less likely to be put down by other races
5. I am not looked down from upon because my race did not have a bad history.
6. I am less likely to be blamed as a criminal.
Disability:
1. They have more advantages (example: parking closest aka handicapped)
2. They get extra help
3. They are smarter in certain areas that we can’t see.
Nationality:
1. I know that I will be protected by all of the laws of the U.S.A
2. I can be employed as a white citizen no matter where I go in the U.S.
3. I can cross the border whenever with a passport.
4. I have the right to vote.
Sexuality:
1. I am able to receive social acceptance by neighbors, colleagues and good friends
2. I am able to have positive and accurate media images of people with who you can identify.
Age:
1. I am now a legal citizen (adult).
2. I can buy tobacco/lottery tickets.
Throughout my life I have seen and understood many privileges that have happened. This assignment was quite easy because my privileges are what I have witnessed. As a white male from this CES class I have learned many privileges that whites have and blacks don’t. Also many of my thoughts of each of these privileges have been showed on much media. The reason for that is because it is all around us. But now that I actually took time to think of all of my privileges that I have I am actually very fortunate to be a white male. I have never really had words or anything that has really affected my privilege of being a white man. I also feel discouraged and I feel bad for other races because the term equality should always be put to action.