Privilege Meme
This meme is to help examine privileges/social class. Only 5 of these things on this list characterize me. As I reflect, I realize that I was poor and of a lower socioeconomic status but I was blessed with a parent who stressed education and encouraged my love of reading and fantasy worlds. So, I guess I really wasn’t poor.
From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright. To participate, bold the items that apply to you.
1. Father went to college2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college (community college)
4. Mother finished college5. 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
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
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 a
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 family32. 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.
ms-teacher from had this posted
meme | Miss Teacha | 
January 16, 2008 5:21 am
6 Comments
Other Links to this Post
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Examining Privilege and Social Class « Byrningbunny’s Challenge Page — April 23, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
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By laniza, January 16, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
This is a very thought provoking meme. I guess I would describe my childhood as working class with middle class aspirations.
By Lara, January 16, 2008 @ 7:10 pm
wow, i was really privileged, which is funny, because compared to most of the people i interact with in the area i live, i was not at all. i might have to write about this at my place too.
By Midwest Teacher, January 16, 2008 @ 7:34 pm
In looking over the list…I could probably be considered priveleged. And, I never would have thought of myself that way, growing up in a very upper middle class small town. However, this is such an eye opener. I’m going to have my students do this. Wow…
By Margaret, January 16, 2008 @ 8:57 pm
The books and the supportive, caring parents make all the difference in the world.
By ms_teacher, January 16, 2008 @ 11:20 pm
I thought it was an eye opener in some respects. However, I like how laniza put it, “working class with middle class aspirations” would definitely describe my family.