Our society often gives special treatment to certain groups over others, which can be both beneficial and detrimental.
It is essential to comprehend what privilege and entitlement mean, both generally and within specific groups. Doing so can give you insight into how best to respond to someone who may feel entitled or privileged in some area of their life.
What is Privilege?
Privilege is a social and economic advantage that certain groups in society enjoy over others. These advantages may be based on factors such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, socioeconomic status, ability status, education level or more; some groups enjoy these privileges more than others.
People of color tend to get more severe punishments for theft or breaking into a store than their white counterparts due to how racial and ethnic stereotypes are reinforced and constructed.
Another example of privilege is when members of one social class are granted access to resources or opportunities not available to those outside their group. For instance, many White Americans enjoy healthcare and education that many people of color do not.
Though these privileges may be difficult to comprehend, it’s essential that we consider them when discussing societal issues with those who are marginalized in some way. Acknowledging these rights makes it easier for oppressed folk to express themselves and demonstrates that those you are speaking with have valid life experiences and perspectives.
It is also essential to consider how privilege impacts your own life. For instance, if you are a BIPOC and have access to resources not available to cisgender white men, then you may experience less oppression than a cisgender man dealing with disability.
You can use your privilege to help those who are oppressed, such as an able-bodied white woman with a disability or transgender person of color. These groups may need support in overcoming challenges they face and will appreciate your understanding of their experience.
Many people are unaware of their privilege. Becoming conscious of one’s own privilege is the first step toward creating social change and dismantling oppressive systems. This takes time and effort, but it is necessary for the betterment of all human beings. As long as we are willing to learn about our advantages and work towards redistributing their benefits equally, we can continue improving lives for everyone.
What is an Unearned Entitlement?
Unearned entitlements are benefits that you don’t have to earn; they can range from government programs or unexpected financial gains like social security and Medicare, for instance.
Most of these programs have been funded through taxes on earned income, such as wages and salaries, rather than investment income like interest, dividends, royalties, rents or capital gains. But with Obamacare enacting its first ever tax on investment income this may change.
Taxing investments wisely is no small feat, and one way to ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely is by taxing them more intelligently. There are some well-designed programs out there that have proven successful; those which reward effort over luck. Examples include tax credit programs like the American Opportunity Tax Credit which have provided thousands of students and working families with financial aid for college. They serve as a reminder that taxing the right things helps guarantee everyone receives an equitable share. Furthermore, these initiatives aren’t all that old either!
What is an Earned Entitlement?
Earned entitlement is a concept used to describe certain legal rights people possess that are granted by law. These rights often align with social and moral principles. One common example is the idea that individuals should have access to government programs funded by taxes, such as Social Security or Medicare.
These rights are known as “entitlements” because they have been legally established and an individual is entitled to them based on their contributions during working years and retirement. The term also applies to other programs providing benefits like SNAP (food stamps) or Pell Grants, which provide financial assistance for college.
Conservative critics of social programs are warning of an “entitlement society,” in which government spending on entitlement and other mandatory programs undermines work ethic and creates a large class of Americans who prefer to depend on these services instead of finding employment. Fortunately, this belief is completely at odds with reality regarding social programs.
According to a CBPP analysis of budget and Census data, over 90% of benefit dollars from entitlement and other mandatory programs go to elderly, disabled individuals and members of working households — not able-bodied working age Americans who choose not to work. In 2010, for instance, only 9% of these dollars went to people who weren’t elderly or disabled and lived in an active household setting.
Furthermore, even among those receiving benefits from discretionary non-entitlement programs that aren’t funded to their full potential – like low-income housing assistance and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), 91 percent of benefit dollars went to elderly or disabled individuals or members of working households.
These findings raise significant questions about the nature and attainment of status in America. Our study suggests that status is a complex social construct which is rarely fully achieved. Its fulfillment is highly subjective and vulnerable to external forces; thus, pursuing status may be counterproductive since it fuels cognitive distortions, leading to distress and dissatisfaction.
What is an Unearned Privilege?
Unearned privileges are advantages that someone has been given without having to work hard for them. Examples of unearned privileges can include belonging to a certain group and entering certain spaces without fear of detection.
Activists are using the concept of privilege to urge people to reflect upon their own privilege and how it could hinder their capacity for fighting for social justice. Unfortunately, this approach has sparked much opposition.
People often tell others to “check their privilege,” yet this practice can have detrimental effects, since it reduces people to their group affiliation instead of elevating them based on individual merit.
Another issue is that when someone is told to “check their privilege,” they may feel pressured into distancing themselves from their identity as a person. This can especially be the case when used by those whose personhood has been suppressed through oppression systems.
When discussing privilege with students, it’s essential to remember that this term can refer to a range of issues. It could encompass things specific to a group such as white privilege or more general examples such as accessing education, medical care, and mental health services.
It can also refer to unearned privileges that are highly valued but restricted to certain groups. Examples include being born into a wealthy family, working in an exclusive profession, and entering certain spaces without being judged suspicious.
In the classroom, we can explore privilege by analyzing its role in our society and which groups have it versus those who don’t. Furthermore, personalizing this conversation by discussing what privilege means to each of us and our experiences with it both historically and currently is essential for making the discussion more relatable and less defensive.
