What is privilege, and what does it mean?
Often in conversations about feminism and social justice issues, the topic of privilege comes up. What is “privilege”? Privilege is defined as “a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.” Privilege is intersectional. For example, I am a 16 year old able-bodied, white, cisgender, panromantic asexual girl, I experience privilege in some ways, but do not have privilege in other ways. I have privilege because I am able bodied, white and cisgender. (Cisgender is defined as “denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender corresponds with their birth sex.”) I do not face issues that people of color face because I am
…show more content…
We need to understand that certain people have more privileges than others. So what do we do about it? We can use our privilege to help others, and raise their voices. The important thing is to realize that because of your privilege, you don't face these issues, so you can't speak for the people who do. As a cisgender person I need to amplify the voices of transgender and nonbinary people, using my privilege to do so. As an able-bodied person I need to advocate for rights for disabled people, and as a white person I need to support what people of color are saying. Speaking over the actual people you want to help does nothing. Listen to them, educate yourselves, educate others, and use your privilege to make a change. Even if it's something small, it can have a ripple effect. Maybe you educate 2 people. Then both of them go educate 2 more people. Then those people continue it, you just need to start the conversation. So go on, speak up when you hear something ignorant, stand up for a minority group, maybe donate to groups that support minorities, talk to your families, friends, peers. Give minority groups and people who don't have the same privilege as you a platform from which to speak