Privilege
Noun
A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to one person or group of people.
The reason I'm looking at the whole idea about "privileges" is because I've just encountered an issue which has caused me to become a little bit more the moody teenager. I have desperately wanted something called a SCUF controller (http://www.scufgaming.com/eu/) for ages. Absolutely ages. And finally, after my birthday a coupl'a weeks back, I have enough money to buy one. FIIIIINALLY!!! I did some checks on my money in my account, just to check I'd have enough for my various trips in the summer holidays and guess what? I don't. By about £5. Brilliant, isn't it? Now, I was originally so, so annoyed that I didn't have enough money to buy a new controller right now at this very second and then I realised something. I realised that for me to have, say, £100, I would have £100 MORE than a hell of a lot of people in this world. To even have that gives me an advantage - a privilege.
You could think of this in other ways too. Look at benefits and pensions; it is thought that people have the right to/are owed this money. This is not correct - a pension is not a right, it's a privilege. In many countries there isn't such thing as a pension. And it's the same thing with benefits.
"But Mum! I don't want to go to school today!" If my mother got a pound for every time I've said that she'd be a billionaire. School is B-O-R-I-N-G, BORING. Half the time I mess around and waste the day. Some kids can't do that. Most of them can't afford that privilege in their countries. Nearly a billion people entered the 21st century unable to read a book or sign their names. I could do that at 6 years old. Some adults still can't. And all some kids can seem to do is throw away their education. I simply thinks it's rude. Anyway...
Choice is also a great privilege. Did you know that in China people TELL you what your future job will be? I'd probably get told to be a teacher or something. But anyway, the fact the I can choose my own career is better than the choice they get. The idea that I can change what I want to go throughout my life is amazing. I have wanted to be a hairdresser, a mechanic, an engineer, a teacher, a dance teacher, a professional singer, an actress, a musician, a psychologist and a load more. Even a fairy. Ew... Well I was 4, give me a break. The fact that I have the ability to choose and change is a privilege - no denying. Even in The Hunger Games everything's chosen for them...
So do you get it yet? So many things are privileges and we take them for granted. It doesn't mean we should stop enjoying them because other people are without, but more so that we should be a little more thoughtful whilst enjoying what we've got. S'all good, really. could be worse, I suppose...
That's it for today, I think. I'l do a post focusing on choice at some point. Probably. No promises. :P
I know! I found it so hard, coming from Mexico, to see the attitude to grammar schools as we used to get threatened that, if we didn't work harder, our parents would put us in a state school (state schools there are really really bad).
ReplyDeleteI've also been learning about "White Privilege" recently, which is really interesting and something I must do more search on...
Sounds interesting! I'll have to do a little research myself :)
DeleteAlthough I understand what you are saying, have you considered the fact that not everyone has something does not make it a privilege? You start by defining a privilege as: A special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to one person or group of people.
ReplyDeleteHowever many of the topics discussed are in fact available to everyone (therefore not a privilege) as they are our fundamental human rights, such as education- http://www.unicef.org.uk/UNICEFs-Work/Our-mission/Childrens-rights/Education/. The fact that it is denied to many people, does not make it a privilege, but an injustice. That said- very interesting and thought provoking article :)
Thank you :) I understand that some things are simply human rights, however I think I still feel privileged to be able to go to school for free and get a good education - I think that's why I put it in this category :)
DeleteSo is the conclusion of your post that the traditional view of a privilege is 'wrong' (can't think of a better word)? And in fact to many people it is not 'being granted' something, but having access to something others do not (slightly different implications and definitions)?
DeleteI wouldn't say the traditional meaning of privilege is wrong, it's more that I've taken the view that my education is a privilege because such a thing is only really accessible in today's world for those who have money. Therefore, education is kind of a privilege to only those who can afford it. In England fee's aren't paid but taxes are, which pay for the educational systems, where as in places like India, schools are paid directly. So I think that I just took the definition of privileges and looked at it in a slightly different manner, rather than discrediting the definition.
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