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DEIB Committee Friday Thoughts

Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging - January 9, 2025

Defining and Recognizing Privilege

by Daniel Keiper (he/his)
GHA Assistant Director of Dining Services

The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “privilege” as “a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage or favor” (when used as a noun) or “to accord a higher value or superior position” (when used as a verb). In other words, privilege is the positive advantages or the absence of barriers given to specific groups of people due to them being in a particular social group. It’s also generally based on social identities, such as race, gender, ability status, education, age, etc., things that are largely out of our control.

The list below was presented to me during a recent exercise that was part of a course on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The exercise involved selecting the privileges you would choose given a limited “budget” with which to “purchase” them. Its purpose was to help participants be more aware of what privileges are and how they can impact their lives.

Pretend that each of the privileges listed below has a cost and that you have a limited budget. If you could only pick a few of the privileges to have for yourself, which would you pick? As you read the list, do you recognize any privileges you already have?

  1. I can easily find and seek out role models who look/identify like me in my personal and professional life.
  2. I am always confident that I can kiss/hug/be affectionate with my romantic partner in public without discomfort, threat to safety, or punishment.
  3. I have always had time off from school or work for celebration of my religious beliefs without falling behind academically or using Personal Time Off.
  4. I always feel safe in my interactions with law enforcement.
  5. I know I can express frustration without being called a derogatory term or “sassy” or someone attributing my expression to “my time of the month” or being similarly dismissed.
  6. Language and slang that people use are not predicated on the assumption that I am bad because of my condition and abilities (i.e., “retarded,” “lame,” “stupid,” “crazy,” “psycho,” “crippled,” etc.).
  7. People do not mock or fetishize my accent, dialect and/or language.
  8. I always have access to healthcare.
  9. I am confident that people will not make unsolicited comments about my body.
  10. I can find bandages/makeup/clothing in “nude” or “flesh” color and have them more or less match my skin.
  11. I can go to new places knowing that I will be able to physically move through the space and have access to every part of the space.
  12. I have confidence that I am paid the same amount as equally qualified colleagues.
  13. I can be confident that conversations and information will be communicated to me in a language that I can understand and with which I can engage.
  14. People know what pronouns to use for me and how to refer to me without asking.
  15. I can achieve a “professional” hairstyle with minimal cost, manipulation, use of chemicals or visits to a professional cosmetologist.

I have had every privilege included on this list for my entire life, and yet I rarely, if ever, considered any of these to be anything other than ordinary. I also didn’t consider the benefits these privileges conferred on my life experiences and opportunities. I have heard someone in similar circumstances as mine refer to this as being born with a “benefits package”, but I took all of the above for granted on a day-to-day basis.

For example, I have always had healthcare coverage. I’ve only ever had to base medical decisions on need, not cost. With rare exceptions, I have always been able to go through life using and hearing my first language without the extra effort required to function in a second one. I do not fear law enforcement. I have had many role models who look just like me.

I have the physical ability to go wherever I choose without any concern about access. I never had to worry that my wage or salary was impacted by anything other than my own qualifications and performance. And I have never had anyone give me a look related to public displays of affection.

For me, the benefit of participating in this exercise was to give me a much greater sense of appreciation for what I have and of the extra life challenges that one would face when lacking some or all of these privileges. I feel that privileges only seem like privileges when viewed from someone else’s perspective. From your own perspective, they basically feel like entitlements. For this exercise to be useful for me, I need to build my own awareness of how the absence of one or more of these privileges may impact those around me, and then take this into consideration as I interact with those I work with, those I serve, friends, family and really anyone with whom I come into contact. Also, since it’s often said that “to whom much is given, much is expected,” I need to find ways to leverage my own privileges to benefit those around me. I’ve heard an old saying: “If you are more fortunate than others, build a longer table, not a taller fence.”

For those who have the benefit of privileges, perhaps make the effort to “share the wealth” with others. Our privileges can be useful to others in many ways, both big and small. As an example, since English is my native language, and to assist those whose first language is not English, I often take the time to edit everything from emails to resumes to letters of recommendation for mistakes and disfluencies that are easy to make when using a second language, especially when acquired later in life. I believe there are many similar, relatively small actions that one can take to use the privileges they have to the benefit of those who may lack them.

_______________________________

Goodwin Living DEIB Committee: Statement of Purpose: Educate, Embrace and Empower team members, residents, members* and all served by Goodwin Living to support Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging.

Goodwin Living DEIB Committee Desired Outcome: The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Committee (DEIB) will seek open and honest communication and collaboration that will inform and celebrate the age, culture, ethnicity and sexual orientation of team members, residents, members* and all served by Goodwin Living without bias.

*Members include Priority Club members and Goodwin Living at Home.

Questions or comments? Please contact us DEIB@GoodwinLiving.org

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