Confronting Privilege: An Honest Reflection on My Own Advantages

Growing up, I never thought much about privilege. My family often struggled to make ends meet, and I was acutely aware of the barriers we faced in accessing education, healthcare, and other basic necessities. But it wasn’t until I ventured out into the world on my own that I began to see the ways in which my own background had shielded me from certain challenges and opened doors that might have remained closed to others.

One of the most striking examples of this came during my college years. While many of my classmates were able to focus solely on their studies, I found myself juggling multiple jobs to support myself financially. It was a constant balancing act, one that often left me exhausted and overwhelmed.

And yet, even in the midst of this struggle, I was also acutely aware of the advantages I still possessed. I had access to a quality education, supportive mentors, and a network of friends and family who believed in me. These were privileges that many of my peers simply did not have.

Over time I began to see how privilege played out in more subtle ways as well. In the classroom, for example, I noticed how certain voices were elevated above others, how some ideas were given more weight simply because of the identities of those who espoused them. And while I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak up and challenge these dynamics, I couldn’t help but wonder how many others were silenced by them.

Of course, confronting privilege isn’t just about recognizing the advantages we possess; it’s also about acknowledging the ways in which we may have contributed to the marginalization of others. This was a particularly difficult realization for me, as I prided myself on being a champion of social justice.

But the truth is, even with the best of intentions, I’ve still benefited from systems of oppression that have disadvantaged others. Whether it’s through unconscious biases or simply by virtue of my own position in society, I’ve undoubtedly played a role in perpetuating inequality.

I recall, for example, a situation from my previous job where I was involved in the hiring process for a new team member. Despite my commitment to fairness and equality, on reflection (and with a little more knowledge and education on these things), I can now see the many biases that influenced my decision-making.

When reviewing resumes, for example, I found myself gravitating towards candidates who shared similar educational backgrounds or work experiences to my own. And without even realizing it, I was prioritizing familiarity over diversity, inadvertently perpetuating a system that disadvantages those who don’t fit into the traditional mold.

In the end, I selected a candidate who (upon reflection), I can see had many similarities to myself. It wasn’t until later, when I took a step back and examined my decision more critically, that I recognized the ways in which my own privilege had influenced the outcome. By favoring candidates who resembled me, I was perpetuating a cycle of homogeneity within the workplace, and one that inherently disadvantaged individuals from underrepresented backgrounds.

So where do we go from here? How do we confront our privilege in a way that’s honest and productive? For me, it has been about crafting an openness and willingness to listen and learn from those whose experiences differ from my own. And it has meant actively seeking out perspectives that challenge my assumptions, alongside being willing to interrogate my own privilege, even when it’s uncomfortable.

Confronting privilege is not easy, nor is it a one-time event. It’s an ongoing process, one that requires humility, self-reflection, and a willingness to do the hard work of dismantling systems of oppression. But it’s also a necessary one if we ever hope to truly achieve fairness systems for everyone.

And as someone who has been granted more advantages than many, I recognize that it’s my responsibility to do everything in my power to make that vision a reality.