Privileged or?
Status Quo Disruptor | DEIA advocate | Thought Leader | Anti-racist advocate | Workshop Facilitator | Public Speaker | Training Expert
Being privileged or marginalized has nothing to do with content of character or individual worth. Nearly every time a colleague brings up privileged and marginalized identities, someone is there to spoil the conversation with 'why all the labeling' or 'can't we all just be human?' I get why people are defensive over these terms. From a young age, we're taught not to label people because that is essentially judging them. But here's what the naysayers don't get: privileged and marginalized aren't labels you slap on someone like a cheap nametag. They refer to people's experiences. As a non-disabled person, public transportation is easier for me. So is finding housing and getting access to buildings, parks, and restaurants. Many persons with physical disabilities do not share this privilege. Which is why disability advocates keep pushing for more accessible spaces. As a Black person navigating these same spaces, however, I ask myself: how am I dressed? Will wearing a hoodie make me look like a 'thug'? Will people assume I'm up to no good? Will the police get called if I get into a confrontation with someone? If they do, how will the cops engage me? White people and some folks of color have the privilege of not considering this. Yes, we are all human, but we do not share the same experiences. So when someone uses the 'let's not label' argument, they are 1) erasing other people's identities AND experiences and 2) derailing efforts to bring equity, inclusion, and justice to said person. The harsh truth is that everyday, people are discriminated against because of their race, gender, disability status, etc. Using the terms privileged and marginalized lets us know who is being discriminated against and who should be using their power and privilege to create change. So in the future, if you are one of those folks who consistently accuse DEI advocates of 'labeling', either listen in or scroll on. You telling us not to label people changes no one's ethnicity, disability, etc., nor does it change the discrimination they experience. #Diversity #DiversityAndInclusion #Inclusion #AntiRacism #Equality #Equity Image description: Academic Wheel of Privilege describing various identities and the power and privileges some carry over others. Image credit: Framework for Open and Reproducible Research Training (FORRT)