How privileged are you?
Do you know the answer to that question? And do you know how much more or less privileged you are in relation to your peers?
I am privileged. I went to a good school with good teachers (along with some weird ones) and never had to worry about not having enough. Most of my friends that I have met through school and those in my social circle are likewise in a similar if not better socio-economic class.
But while I at least have that self-awareness, life shows you all the time that there are many out there who don't.
I urge you to try this experiment out. This a simple but powerful experience to illustrate how much impact things that are out of our control by simple virtue of birth and circumstance can affect the rest of our lives.
Answer a series of questions about your life and take a step forward or backward.
At the end of 35 questions, look at where you stand against everyone else.
That is privilege.
Do it with your friends, but not just your friends. In a country like Singapore where the school you go to influences the diversity of your social network, that immediately skews results.
Do it with your colleagues from all walks of lives, friends of all cultures.
Do it with strangers, if you have the opportunity to.
If you can't, just do it on your own, like I did.
I think it will be a profound experience of discovery.
Here are my answers and my privilege result:
If your parents worked nights and weekends to support your family, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 0
If you are able to move through the world without fear of sexual assault, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 0
If you can show affection for your romantic partner in public without fear of ridicule or violence, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 1 step forward
If you have ever been diagnosed as having a physical or mental illness/disability, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 1 step forward
If the primary language spoken in your household growing up was not english, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 1 step forward
If you came from a supportive family environment take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 2 steps forward
If you have ever tried to change your speech or mannerisms to gain credibility, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 2 steps forward
If you can go anywhere in the country, and easily find the kinds of hair products you need and/or cosmetics that match your skin color, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 3 steps forward
If you were embarrassed about your clothes or house while growing up, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 2 steps forward (Personally I think this is a result of the socio-economic group I found myself in. It was a privileged group and there was a lot of upward comparison that made me feel like we didn't have as much. However on hindsight everything I had was more than adequate).
If you can make mistakes and not have people attribute your behavior to flaws in your racial/gender group, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 3 steps forward
If you can legally marry the person you love, regardless of where you live, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 4 steps forward
If you were born in the United States (or in our case, Singapore), take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 5 steps forward
If you or your parents have ever gone through a divorce, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 5 steps forward
If you felt like you had adequate access to healthy food growing up, take one step forward
Steps taken so far: 6 steps forward
If you are reasonably sure you would be hired for a job based on your ability and qualifications, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 7 steps forward
If you would never think twice about calling the police when trouble occurs, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 8 steps forward
If you can see a doctor whenever you feel the need, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 9 steps forward
If you feel comfortable being emotionally expressive/open, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 10 steps forward
If you have ever been the only person of your race/gender/socio-economic status/ sexual orientation in a classroom or workplace setting, please take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 10 steps forward
If you took out loans for your education take one step backward.
Steps taken so far: 9 steps forward
If you get time off for your religious holidays, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 10 steps forward
If you had a job during your high school and college years, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 10 steps forward (I did teach tuition but it was more for extra spending money so I don't count that).
If you feel comfortable walking home alone at night, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 10 steps forward
If you have ever traveled outside the United States (or in our case, Singapore), take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 11 steps forward
If you have ever felt like there was NOT adequate or accurate representation of your racial group, sexual orientation group, gender group, and/or disability group in the media, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 11 steps forward
If you feel confident that your parents would be able to financially help/support you if you were going through a financial hardship, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 12 steps forward
If you have ever been bullied or made fun of based on something that you can’t change, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 12 steps forward
If there were more than 50 books in your house growing up, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 13 steps forward
If you studied the culture or the history of your ancestors in elementary school take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 14 steps forward
If your parents or guardians attended college, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 14 steps forward
If you ever went on a family vacation, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 15 steps forward
If you can buy new clothes or go out to dinner when you want to, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 16 steps forward
If you were ever offered a job because of your association with a friend or family member, take one step forward.
Steps taken so far: 17 steps forward
If one of your parents was ever laid off or unemployed not by choice, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 17 steps forward
If you were ever uncomfortable about a joke or a statement you overheard related to your race, ethnicity, gender, appearance, or sexual orientation but felt unsafe to confront the situation, take one step back.
Steps taken so far: 17 steps forward My final result: 17 steps forward from the starting line
What's your privilege?