Check Your Privilege: The Quiz

Quiz - Mix Fix

Check Your Privilege: The Quiz

by Jessi Kume

Johan Galtung defines “the cause of difference between the actual and the potential, between what could have been and what is” as structur al violence. This is a concept that has much to do with privilege. The structure of the society encourages the privileges of some and limits that of others. Many of us have privileges but may also struggle in other parts of our lives due to reasons that are not conductible to us but which are actually rooted in society, stereotypes and culture.

The struggle of privilege may not always leave visible marks or scars but it still hits and hurts. Moreover, privilege - or better underprivileged - is intersectional. This is something grassroots movements advocating for social rights have been addressing for a long time now. For example a trans women is subjected to gender discrimination twice, for being women and for being trans. Therefore, today we talk about transfeminism rather than only feminism to include and give voice to a wider intersectional struggle.

Academics talk about “the pyramid of privilege” where, in an abstract ideal-typical sense, the top of the pyramid would be the white cis gender heterosexual able and, economically, physically and mentally healthy man. The more an individual gets away from this typology of subject which incorporates privilege, the more the structure will hinder one’s potential. It is different to be a white person rather than a PoC1, and again to be a PoC woman, or again to be a transexual PoC woman, or again to be a disabled transexual PoC woman and so on... you understand the logic. Everyone of us may be more privileged than someone else and not be aware of it. It takes time, education and deconstruction but by listening to the needs of each other we can really contribute to solidarity and increased life quality for whoever is struggling with issues related to privilege.

So take the quiz and check your privilege!

1. Have you ever been afraid to walk hand in hand with your partner?

a. No

b. Sometimes

c. Yes, most often

(people belonging to the LGBTQIA community are often afraid of walking hand in hand with the person they have a relationship with as they may be insulted and sometimes even subject ed to physical violence due to homotransphobic reasons)

2. Are you afraid to walk alone at night?

a. No

b. Sometimes

c. Yes, most often

(Most women, gay people or queer people are afraid to walk alone at night especially in streets without lights as they fear being subjected to violence. Sometimes violence can be delivered even in relation to racism. Check your friends, offer to walk them home or stay on the phone with them)

3. Have you ever changed the way you were dressed out of fear of being catcalled or being insulted?

a. No

b. Sometimes

c. Yes, most often

(Women and people from the LGBTQIA+ com munity are called out due to their dresses. Sometimes people feel they have the right to sexist comments based on how a woman is dressed. Person of Color is a term used primarily to address every person who is not “white” without 1 incurring in offensive language, especially if you are white).

Your body is always your choice and the way you dress it as well. Privileged ally try not to stay silent when these episodes happen.

4. Do you know what a dead name is?

a. No

b. Yes, but not because I have one

c. Yes, people have called me that

(The dead name is the former name of a transgender person. The person does not recognize this name anymore as it is connected to a gender they don’t identify in. To be called by a dead name denigrates the gender of a person and the way they identify with it).

5. Have you ever been addressed with a slur (n word, f word, s word)

a. I don’t know what this is

b. No

c. Yes

(A slur is to take a word and charge it with negative connotation related to ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, health or disability. Fun fact: a slur addressed to the white cisgender hetero sexual able man does not exist... privilege?).

6. Has your mental health ever been a limit for you either economically or socially speaking?

a. No

b. Sometimes

c. Yes, often

(Mental health issues are still treated as a taboo. We have a mental health just as we have a physical health. You would never judge some one struggling with a physical disease, why should you do it with someone struggling with a mental one? Moreover treatments related to mental health is still unaffordable for many people. Maybe we would like to see a psychologist but you cannot afford one).

7. Have you ever struggled finding your size of clothes in shops, especially fast fashion?

a. No

b. Sometimes

c. Yes, often

(Sometimes the way you look is also considered a privilege, but even beauty is socially constructed. Fat phobia is still an underrated issue in our society. Sometimes people struggle to find clothes because the society promotes a certain type of body as the norm, but a body is a body it’s not a norm. Moreover, keep an eye on your friends and educate yourselves on eating disorders).

8. Have you ever been denied a house or a job due to your ethnicity?

a. No

b. Sometimes

c. Yes, often

(People with ethnicity different than white may be denied houses or jobs or sometimes. This happens due to racial hatred or racial prejudice which we still have not overcome).

9. Can you afford to have a sustainable and healthy lifestyle (for example buy healthy organic food, afford the gym, afford ethical clothing) but even to go on vacation, or afford the doctor?

a. Yes

b. Sometimes

c. No

(Economic privilege is also a thing. This privilege leads to a whole vicious circle related to many areas of our lives. The paradox is that to have a lifestyle that would be sustainable and would support equity is often expensive and not affordable).

10. Have you ever felt lonely or rejected from your friends and family due to reasons related to your gender, sexuality or mental health?

a. No

b. I have never talked to them, I am scared of the reaction

c. Yes

(Struggles are not only related to our place in the “outside world” but they may have an impact on the intimacy of our family and circle of friends. People may be scared of judgment to come out as homosexual or transexual or even to share mental health struggles).

11. Have you ever been called inspiring for doing something completely normal such as eat a salad?

a. No

b. Sometimes

c. Yes, often

(Abilism is another form of discrimination. It relates to having a stereotyped idea that people with some kinds of disability cannot lead a normal life or cannot even do something very normal. People with disabilities are not super heroes, they do not need to inspire just because they have a disability. People with disabilities are people first and foremost. Let’s start to talk about disability in a different and more inclusive way).

Answers:

If you mostly answered A: you may be pretty privileged although each and every one of us has its own struggle. What can you do? Become an Ally! An ally is not part of the discrimination but supports the struggle. You can be an ally to the LGBTQI+ community, a feminist ally and so on. But be careful this is not your struggle, do not make it yours! Instead, use your privilege to become a megaphone and share the struggle or denounce when you see it. For instance: is someone is catcalling a girl walking in the street or using slurs? you may address to them and don’t be silent.

If you answered mostly B: you may be struggling with privilege, or you are an ally or you simply know what it means to struggle. Deconstruction never ends, we always have to learn and no one is exempt from its own privilege 100%. Privilege can become a strength if used in the right way and we may always broaden our horizon by discovering and listening to other struggles.

If you answered mostly C: you probably know well what it means to struggle with the structure and probably know well what intersectionality is! You are not alone, you are seen and heard. Check for associations in the city where you can find a safe place and you can offer or create tools to advocate for your social rights.

Bonus tip: each question relates to a privilege, the results above apply as well for the answers of the single questions.