5 Things I’ve learnt about privilege
Nobody likes talking about it
Standing in the kitchen asking my mum: ‘why is it that I get a covid vaccine before billions others who need it?’ ultimately just ends up with her saying ‘that’s just the way the world is’
To me, growing up involves saying goodbye to a certain childlike morality and accepting certain ‘truths’ that the previous generation of adults have been forced to accept.
There are reasons why the world is how it is today, (capitalism/colonialism and a whole lot of racism) but no one likes talking about that either.
A discussion based on inalienable, baseless immorality, will therefore never be pleasant.
2. People do not realise their privilege
Until viscerally confronted with someone who experiences life differently to you, you do not realise how much you have. Whether it be learning not everyone has a fiat 500 brought for them at university or travelling to an underdeveloped country and watching people starve to death, ignorance is bliss.
3. You beat yourself up and feel guilty
I am a white, well-educated, western girl with more money than she knows what to do with. Yes, this unjustified and I am completely undeserving, but feeling crap about it does not help anyone.
I recognise how obscenely lucky I am and intend to make the most of the opportunities so kindly placed on my lap. Right now, that’s the best I can do.
4. There is no solution better than what we already have
With a path of unbridled capitalism before us the best hope I can see is that one day everyone will develop to the point where even those at the bottom (poor children dying in Africa) will have food, water, peace and an education.
That is if the climate crisis doesn’t destroy all hope and stability first.
5. How I have resolved to live with privilege
Walking around every day thinking I’m enlightened for volunteering at a monastery in Asia on a gap year is not going to make me Mother Teresa.
Real sustainable change is possible and I’m going to work my ass off for it. The game plan is to complete my degree, learn languages, gain cultural sensitivity and a lot of money working internationally and use it for good.
This plan itself is liable to corruption, saviorism, and entitled exploitation. But it’s the best I can think of.
