This week you are exploring what it means to have privilege in all aspects of life, whether it be that
you are able to enroll in school and take this course, or that you are able to walk, type, see, taste, or
purchase/have access to groceries. Having privilege also means that you have power of some sort.
Even having access to goods and services can be seen as a privilege. Discrimination can accompany
power and privilege as those who have power and privilege may not be consciously aware of how
they benefit from it.
Instructions:
First, Chapter 4 of The Ecology of Diversity (Kahn, 2015) has a “Reflections on Diversity” section near
the end entitled, “Membership in Dominant and Subordinate Groups.” Follow the instructions
provided in the chapter and complete the chart considering who are you are and what relationships
you have with each type of group.
Second, write at least three paragraphs (300 words) addressing the following questions:
1) How has privilege, in any/all forms, shaped your life? Consider race, socioeconomic status,
education, and other associations identified in Week 1.
2) Have you been aware of the privileges in your life as you were growing up? Why or why not?
3) As you learn more about privilege, and as you examine your life, what do you find most
interesting or surprising?
4) How has privilege shaped your life opportunities, life chances, experiences, etc.?
REPLY TO MY CLASSMATES’ DISCUSSION TO THE ABOVE
QUESTIONS AND EXPLAIN WHY YOU AGREE. MINIMUM OF
150 WORDS EACH
CLASSMATE’S DISCUSSION 1
Privilege has had a large impact on my life. Growing up I knew that my family struggled a
lot. My parents divorced when I was in elementary school. My mom was a single parent
to four small children. I did not realize the impact that this would have on my life. I have
realized the importance of working hard and having a positive outlook on life. My mom
struggled to put food on the table, but we never would have known. She tried to give us
everything that we wanted. We attended a public school in a small town and lived in a
three-bedroom house that my mom owned. We did rely on government assistance.
Growing up, I was not aware of my privilege in life. Even though we struggled, we always
managed and had a place to call our own. In community college, I participated in a
privilege walk. “At the end of the exercise, participants are asked to look around the
room and take note of the unequal degrees of privilege they possess.” (Morton, 2022).
This exercise made me realize the place that I stood when it comes to privilege. Some of
the privileges that individuals and do not have come from structural inequities within
society. (Kahn, 2015, Chapter 4.1).
After examining more about my adult life, I have found some interesting findings about
privilege. Because my husband is in the Navy, I have found that educational experience
can play an important role in life. The officers are treated better than the enlisted. They
have better food, housing, pay, respect, and much more. Yes, they do have more
responsibility, but should their quality of life be better. This privilege has shaped my life
for the better. I realize that I have opportunities because of my race, socioeconomic
status, and education. I want to help those that do not have the opportunities in life that
I do. I want to give back to my small town. My past experiences in life have shaped who I
am today. Privilege will always play a role in society. It is up to the future civilians to help
decrease the gap between privileged individuals and underprivileged individuals.
References
Kahn, A. (2015). The ecology of diversity: Examining individuals, societies, and cultures.
Bridgepoint Education.
Morton, B. (2022). Against the Privilege Walk. Dissent (00123846), 69(3), 102–109.
https://doi.org/10.1353/dss.2022.005
CLASSMATE’S DISCUSSION 2
Privilege has had a large impact on my life. Growing up I knew that my family struggled a
lot. My parents divorced when I was in elementary school. My mom was a single parent
to four small children. I did not realize the impact that this would have on my life. I have
realized the importance of working hard and having a positive outlook on life. My mom
struggled to put food on the table, but we never would have known. She tried to give us
everything that we wanted. We attended a public school in a small town and lived in a
three-bedroom house that my mom owned. We did rely on government assistance.
Growing up, I was not aware of my privilege in life. Even though we struggled, we always
managed and had a place to call our own. In community college, I participated in a
privilege walk. “At the end of the exercise, participants are asked to look around the
room and take note of the unequal degrees of privilege they possess.” (Morton, 2022).
This exercise made me realize the place that I stood when it comes to privilege. Some of
the privileges that individuals and do not have come from structural inequities within
society. (Kahn, 2015, Chapter 4.1).
After examining more about my adult life, I have found some interesting findings about
privilege. Because my husband is in the Navy, I have found that educational experience
can play an important role in life. The officers are treated better than the enlisted. They
have better food, housing, pay, respect, and much more. Yes, they do have more
responsibility, but should their quality of life be better. This privilege has shaped my life
for the better. I realize that I have opportunities because of my race, socioeconomic
status, and education. I want to help those that do not have the opportunities in life that
I do. I want to give back to my small town. My past experiences in life have shaped who I
am today. Privilege will always play a role in society. It is up to the future civilians to help
decrease the gap between privileged individuals and underprivileged individuals.
References
Kahn, A. (2015). The ecology of diversity: Examining individuals, societies, and cultures.
Bridgepoint Education.
Morton, B. (2022). Against the Privilege Walk. Dissent (00123846), 69(3), 102–109.
https://doi.org/10.1353/dss.2022.005