When I was arguing with a girl on Instagram, I brought up the topic of ‘white privilege,’ which she had, since she was white. Her response was something akin to “I don’t have privilege! I’m poor!”
Wrong.
Defined as a “right or benefit that is given to some people and not to others,” privilege is the defining factor in social inequality. The higher you are on the metaphorical ‘social ladder,’ the more privilege you have. Despite that definition, some people use it as an umbrella term, when it really isn’t. There are many kinds of privilege, and it’s up to you to realize and remember what kind(s) you have.
I’m black. I’m black, female, and pansexual. Those are my disadvantaged points. On the other hand, I am cis, well-off, and able-bodied. Those are my privileged points. Realizing these is the first step to understanding my stature in the world, and what topics I should therefore speak up about.
Being a cis woman, it is not my place to speak up and over trans women. I am not in their shoes, and my privilege may hinder me from discussing their general consensus. However, I am black and female, so I can speak up on issues about both race and the female gender.
There is no ‘umbrella privilege.’ Just because you have one type of privilege, doesn’t mean you are privileged in all walks of life. The same goes for people who are oppressed in one category and constantly use that oppression as a Get Out of Jail Free card.
Just because you’re a woman, doesn’t mean you understand what it feels like to be black or a general PoC. Just because you’re gay, doesn’t mean you have the ability to tell me how I face oppression as a woman. It just doesn’t work that way.
If you’re a woman of color, or an LGBTQ+ person of color, then yes, you have the ability to speak up about this. However, I don’t want any white women or gay man telling me how to feel about being black or a girl.
Oppression can be grouped together, though, don’t get me wrong. A quote from Julia Serano, a trans activist, states, “A WoC doesn’t face racism and sexism separately. The sexism she faces is often racialized and the racism she faces is often sexualized.” This is true. Groups of oppression often build up upon each other and create a sort of hierarchy within both the oppressive system and the system of the oppressed.
A trans, white man will be treated differently than a cis, black man in terms of race and gender. A white, gay woman will be treated differently than a black, straight woman in terms of race and sexuality.
When there is only one difference between two, though, that’s when hierarchies within oppressed groups come out to play. A white woman is rated higher than a black woman in the eyes of both the law and women themselves. The same goes for a trans man of color and a white, trans man – they are treated differently in the eyes of the law and in their own trans community. Trying to state that you do not have privilege because you are oppressed in one category is wrong to do, as you may not be higher in the grand scheme of things, but you are higher in your oppressed group because of that your certain privilege.
Having privilege doesn’t make you evil, though! Try and use it to help those with less than you, but don’t speak over them. It can be used for good, you just have to recognize and realize it.
Everyone has some form of privilege, whether they want to acknowledge it or not. Just because you are disadvantaged in one way, doesn’t mean you aren’t advantaged in another. Recognizing these privileges you have and utilizing them for the benefit of those more marginalized can be a step towards a greater, more progressive future.
Ariann is a fifteen year old student in high school. She enjoys astrology, Harry Potter, music, video games, writing (both creatively and for the magazine), as well as joking around with her friends. She considers herself to be involved in social justice (specifically movements of race, gender, and sexuality), and can be found voicing her views on those topics (among a plethora of jokes) on Twitter @poorlesian.
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