Came across this excellent post today: "Check my What? On Privilege and What We Can do About It. Some tips on going from pro-equality in spirit to pro-equality in deed".
A really good explanation of what privilege means, with some concrete suggestions of how to deal with it. Tells us to accept the fact that privilege exists, learn to listen so we can understand what our privilege means, and then gives tips on how to communicate (including some tips on respectful language, and dealing with minority spaces). One of the most important specifics is, I think, is the advice to recognize "it's not about you". Basically anyone who has any sort of privilege oughtta read it: men, white people, heteros, rich people, etc.
It seems to be an opportune time to post about this, considering the conversations that have been raging in this corner of the blogosphere lately. More to come.
Read the whole thing.
Also recommended for a good primer on some of the effects of privilege vs. discrimination: The Color of Wealth: The Story Behind the US Racial Wealth Divide, previously blogged about here.
UPDATE: Check out Classified: How to Stop Hiding Your Privilege and Use it for Social Change. You can even download a whole copy here.
3 comments:
Good post, the concept of equity as a path to equality has long been derided without anyone knowing what equity is.
Good for bringing up the basic ideas.
Thanks for the link. This is probably the most concise treatment of privilege I've ever seen.
Hi Jenny, I followed you home from Dawg's and yoor blog looks interesting. I'll be back as soon as time permits.
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