Expanding the Definition of Privilege: The Concept of Social Privilege

✍ Scribed by Linda L. Black; David Stone

• Publisher: American Counseling Association
• Year: 2005
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 70 KB
• Volume: 33
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0883-8534
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-1912.2005.tb00020.x

✦ Synopsis

Examinations of privilege have historically focused on gender and race. By placing privilege within the context of oppression, the authors offer an expanded view of the domains of privilege that include sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, age, differing degrees of ableness, and religious affiliation.

Los exámenes del privilegio se han enfocado históricamente en el género y la raza. Colocando el privilegio dentro del contexto de la opresión, los autores ofrecen una vista ensanchada de los dominios del privilegio que incluye la orientación sexual, la posición socioeconómica, la edad, difiriendo los grados de habilidad, y de la afiliación religiosa.

I n many cultures, particular groups benefited and prospered because of the entitlements, advantages, and dominance conferred upon them by society. These privileges were granted solely as a birthright, not because of intelligence, ability, or personal merit. Ironically, privileged persons often believed that their personal qualities specifically warranted their inclusion in this group while simultaneously remaining unaware of the extent and impact of these privileges. Lack of membership in privileged groups was characteristically viewed as a lack of effort. Therefore, the belief was that those denied power, access, or visibility must, by definition, have earned their exclusion and oppression because of some personal defect. This belief is often referred to as the "myth of meritocracy" whereby a culture communicates that the oppressed could earn society's privileges if they were just different (e.g., more like the privileged group).