I think one thing that a lot of privileged people don’t realize when they’re called out on their privilege or told that they posess it, is that having privilege doesn’t mean you’re a bad person and those who don’t have your privilege hate you.
Let me say that again: just because you’ve got privilege doesn’t reflect the quality of your character or your ability to be supporters and friends of the underprivileged.
What it does mean, for you, is that you were born into a system in which you are at a distinct advantage, whether that is due to your gender, race, orientation, status as able-bodied, etc. You get breaks in some things that other people don’t because they don’t have your privilege. In some aspects, life’s a little easier for you.
It doesn’t mean that it isn’t also sometimes hard for you, or that bad things don’t happen to you and that you are somehow morally deficient. It doesn’t mean that you can’t be emotionally affected by or conceptualize the struggles those without your privilege face— you just can’t understand these experiences firsthand.
So when a person talks to you about the privilege you possess, they’re not accusing you of being a horrible excuse for a human. It’s a natural reaction to become defensive when you feel you may be under attack, especially if the person doesn’t sugar coat their words, but that’s the thing— you aren’t under attack personally, the systems that put you in place over others are what is under attack. You shouldn’t feel offended unless you want them to stay in place to make your life easier at the cost of others’, and THEN that’s when you officially enter asshole territory. So even if someone is bitter and sarcastic and angry when you say something reeking of privilege, don’t think they’re out to hurt you personally, because that’s what systems that perpetuate privilege WANT you to believe. Instead, count to ten and be patient and most importantly, listen.
What is the point of even mentioning privilege then? The only reason I can possibly think of is to make that person feel guilty. There’s literally no other reason to tell someone they are privileged unless you want to discredit them and their accomplishments.
“You got into college? If you weren’t so privileged, you never would’ve made it.”
It’s pretty clear to me anything I say to you will be discredited, since I’m a feminist and a girl and you pretty clearly hate that sorta shit.
In the meantime, you’re a horrible waste of semen, get off my blog, don’t return because I am not a Nice Feminist Lady who sits around and argues semantics with assholes who are absolutely enraged and terrified at their place in a bullshit hierarchy being undermined by the fact that the ones they’ve ground under their heels are actually fighting back.
Why is it that any time you question anything a feminist says, you’re automatically a woman-hating asshole? It must be because they spew 100% truth 24/7. Yes, I believe modern feminism is a sexist malevolent movement. No, I do not hate women. I don’t hate men either, just people who act like assholes.
I like how you assume I’m “enraged and terrified” at losing my place in society, when I really don’t give a fuck. I’m just tired of seeing decent men being treated like shit by women, because feminists teach them they shouldn’t respect men.
(Source: them-witches, via them-witches)
