Privilege Meme

…I’ll just do as the rest of the blogosphere has done and bold the items that apply to me.

Step forward one step if:

Father went to college
Father finished college
Mother went to college
Mother finished college
Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.
Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
Had more than 50 books in your childhood home
Had more than 500 books in your childhood home
Were read children’s books by a parent
Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
Had or will have less than $5000 in student loans when you graduate
Had or will have no student loans when you graduate
Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs*
Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs*
Went to a private high school
Went to summer camp
Had a private tutor before you turned 18
Family vacations involved staying at hotels
Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
There was original art in your house when you were a child
Had a phone in your room before you turned 18
You and your family lived in a single family house
Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
You had your own room as a child
Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course
Had your own TV in your room in High School
Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College
Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
Went on a cruise with your family
Went on more than one cruise with your family
Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

I don’t think my kids will have all these things checked off, but they will undoubtedly have most of them barring financial catastrophe of some sort. There are some things I’m strangely unsure of. I know my mom went to the local community college while I was in school, but I don’t know that she got any sort of degree. I should ask. Also, while I have been on a large ship (for a trip between Germany and Finland with my grandfather and cousin), I wouldn’t call it a ‘cruise,’ though I could see other people doing so, perhaps. I don’t recall well enough to say whether it was or not.

Yeah, I had it good growing up. My parents did a lot for me, no question, and I definitely appreciate it, and hope to pass on even better to my child/ren. Part of that was knowing the value of the advantages I was able to partake in, and an appreciation for not only what we were able to do, but what others couldn’t.

One comment

  1. Andre Alforque says:

    I’m not sure what the point of this meme is, but I’m completely privileged. I’ve barely lifted a finger in my life, and perhaps that makes me the complacent person I am today?

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