Stephanie Barnes
Here’s the thing: When it comes to privilege, those who have it, don’t always notice or appreciate it.
This privilege may show up in many forms, including gender, physical health, wealth, race, and food security. When you have these and other privileges, you don’t often take the time to consider those who don’t. For example, someone who’s able-bodied, may not consider making their event suitable for those with disabilities. In the same way, some straight white men in America may not think about the experiences of queer Black women trying to navigate the same spaces.
This was highlighted in a recent Reddit thread, where folks from all around the world answered the question: What do people not realize is a privilege?
The answers are certainly eye-opening, and hopefully they’ll serve as a reminder of just how “lucky” some of us are.
Here are 20 privileges people often overlook, according to the internet.
1. Comfortable temps
Being able to sit in a house that is kept at a comfortable temperature all year long.
2. Actually getting to be a kid
The ability to actually be a kid when young. It’s heartbreaking how many children have to grow up / are hardened before they even hit puberty.
3. Being able-bodied
Having a body where everything works properly.
4. Safe spot
Having a safe place to sleep.
5. Being able to quit a job…
…without fear of losing financial stability
I think most people would recognise that as a privilege tbf. I mean I’m doing fairly well for myself but I can’t just quit my job.
6. Buying groceries without price checking
I work in a grocery store. In March of 2020, when people were coming in and hoarding and buying $600 worth of groceries? I was kind of jealous. No way could I spend that much on groceries. That was over a week’s pay then and even now, with a better job, it’s still almost a weeks pay and I still can’t drop that much on groceries, or anything else.
7. A stable home
And emotionally+financially stable parents that care about and support you.
8. Water
Having tap water. Forget about drinkable.
I’m from India, and when we were younger we lived in houses that didn’t have running water. We would walk up a flight of stairs with buckets of water to fill up our water drum. As we got more “settled” in life, only then did we realize how luck we actually are. I don’t care about drinking tap water. Having water running out of a tap feels so wonderful. The feeling of not walking a bucket of water up the stairs at 5.30 in the morning was such a relief.
9. Travel
It’s funny how most Westerners say “dude you can travel (internationally) cheap, and do backpacking”, could be true for them but they’re forgetting to look at their shiny passport.
For us third worlders, even if we can afford it and richer than these cheap backpackers, we have to prove to visa officers and immigration our net worth to afford that travelling. Heck a backpacking reason will raise a red flag to most of them.
10. Hot showers
The best thing ever, which everyone takes for granted.
11. Not needing burglar bars
Not having glass or barbwires over every wall, not having bars over every f–king window, leaving the door unlocked at night and most likely being fine, etc
Here in Argentina we have our personal jails while the criminals roam the streets.
12. A car
I’ve noticed that in the US even poor people have cars, here is pretty damn expensive to have and maintain a car and there’s no credit option.
13. Electricity
Here power goes out a few times a week. In the US it only goes out when there’s a tornado or something like that.
14. Food security
Food insecurity is terrifying. I have been fortunate that coming from a poor family I always had food. Thinking of all the kids who were out of school due to covid that were on free and reduced meals breaks my heart.
15. Toilets
I haven’t had a toilet for 3yrs now (I live in my van) and sometimes finding a bathroom is a real pain. And in the same breath cities complain about homeless pooping/peeing in public, they also closed the few public bathrooms that were available “because of covid.”
16. Life without mental illness
Honestly living life without any form of mental illness. It’s becoming less and less common but a lot of the people that do don’t realize just how lucky they are…
17. Being conventionally attractive
Even outside of dating it gives so many advantages. People are more welcoming to attractive people. People are more willing to include and reach out to attractive people. People are more willing to hire attractive people.
18. Right vs. Left
Being right-handed. I can’t tell you how much grief I’ve had with can openers, notebooks, binders, desks, and too many other things to count.
19. Being vaccinated
People from underdeveloped countries like mines have people dying from preventable disease. My moms mother crossed a warzone after a devastating earthquake so my mom could get a smallpox vaccine.
20. Heterosexuality
Being Hetrosexual! Especially if you are not in Western part of the world.
