Acknowledge Your Privileges

“Equality before the law is probably forever unattainable. It is a noble ideal, but it can never be realized, for what men value in this world is not rights but privileges.”
― H.L. Mencken

It’s easy to take your privileges for granted when you are not confronted with the daily risk of losing them. Some of us have been fed with a silver spoon ever since we came into this world while others have had to walk on needles this whole time. As a white woman, I am very aware of the privileges that come with my appearance. Nonetheless, I am very familiar with being a target of discrimination because of my mental illnesses. I haven’t had a job in two years, and part of it can be explained by the unfair treatment I have been getting at each job I’ve held.

"We treat everyone equal here. We won’t accommodate you because it wouldn’t be fair for others. " These are the words one of my previous employer said to me 4 years ago. His narrative quickly changed when I got out my legal code and wrote down each law he had had transgressed so far. It’s really a shame that people think they can do whatever floats their boats until their very own boat catches fire. Oupsie doupsie.

Where there’s a lack of discrimination, that doesn’t mean that there’s necessarily the presence of a privilege. When people that are trans don’t have the luxury of stepping into a walk-in clinic for fear that the doctor they will fall on that day won’t be trans friendly, it is alarming to say the least. Yet if that person who is trans goes to see a doctor at that very clinic and gets a service that made him.her. feel at ease and respected in her.his. identity, that doesn’t mean that he.she. won’t feel discriminated next time around.

Don’t assume you know someone’s privileged position while judging them on their appearance, skin color, their social status, gender. You can’t know if someone is a victim of oppression unless you live in their shoes everyday. Be open minded and compassionate toward people you cross paths with. You never know the reality of someone. Life is too short to be hurtful.