Thanks, Deri, for this very though-provoking piece. I agree with you wholeheartedly that there are many different ways in which one can be advantaged - and that parenting, in particular, is often overlooked.
I would look to tease apart the concept of "privilege" a little more though. Certainly, it is very important insofar as it contributes to us being happy, being at peace. But I think we need to go down the Maslow pyramid a bit more as well - to ideas of safety and basic physiological needs.
For many people, the experience of prejudice is horribly basic: the fear of physical or psychological harm from individuals or the establishment. I am lucky in that I have experienced little or none of this in my life (being white, male, middle class etc.) - but it does seem particularly pernicious that many people have a constant fear for their own safety as they go about their daily lives, based on their identity. Sexual assault, police bias, homophobic abuse etc. - notwithstanding the sensible caveats you make above - are real and present factors in many people's lives in ways that I will always find hard to understand.
Thanks, Deri, for this very though-provoking piece. I agree with you wholeheartedly that there are many different ways in which one can be advantaged - and that parenting, in particular, is often overlooked.
I would look to tease apart the concept of "privilege" a little more though. Certainly, it is very important insofar as it contributes to us being happy, being at peace. But I think we need to go down the Maslow pyramid a bit more as well - to ideas of safety and basic physiological needs.
For many people, the experience of prejudice is horribly basic: the fear of physical or psychological harm from individuals or the establishment. I am lucky in that I have experienced little or none of this in my life (being white, male, middle class etc.) - but it does seem particularly pernicious that many people have a constant fear for their own safety as they go about their daily lives, based on their identity. Sexual assault, police bias, homophobic abuse etc. - notwithstanding the sensible caveats you make above - are real and present factors in many people's lives in ways that I will always find hard to understand.