Somewhere In The Suburbs

Privilege

Posted by: LSM on: January 2, 2008

The items in bold reflect my experiences.  I’ve enjoyed seeing this exercise at Life in the Minivan Lane, Tales from the Testosterone Zone, and A Squib’s Life. While I always viewed my experience growing up as decidedly “middle class,” by these standards it was clearly privileged. I’ve had some thoughts swirling around about that and how my parents came to be able to provide that lifestyle for us for the past few days.  Hopefully it will gel into something coherent I can share! This blog-game is based on an exercise developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University as reported by Quaker and Social Class. The exercise developers hold the copyright and ask that if you participate in this blog game, you acknowledge their copyright.

1. Father went to college

2. Father finished college (undergrad and law degree)

3. Mother went to college

4. Mother finished college (undergrad and master’s degree)

5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor

6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers

7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home

8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home

9. Were read children’s books by a parent

10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 (dance, twirling, and piano)

11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.

13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18

14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs

15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs

16. Went to a private high school (in my small town the public schools were far superior to the private ones)

17. Went to summer camp

18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18

19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels

20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18

21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them

22. There was original art in your house when you were a child. 

23. You and your family lived in a single family house . 

24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home

25. You had your own room as a child

26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18. 

27. Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course

28. Had your own TV in your room in High School

29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College

30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16

31. Went on a cruise with your family

32. Went on more than one cruise with your family

33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up.

34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family.

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3 Responses to "Privilege"

My sense is that this list weighs education fairly heavily compared to material things — but that may be an accurate reflection of the things a kid needs in childhood to graduate high school with a sense that all of life’s possibilities were open to them.

[...] obvious from my answers on the privilege exercise that my life was a far cry from my father’s.  I took for granted things growing up that he [...]

[...] Posts See, It’s Required This WeekPrivilegeWhat To Take To A New Mother For DinnerIt’s a Privilege To Be His DaughterThe DessertMore New Mom [...]

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