While reading a friend’s online journal Saturday morning I came across the Privilege Meme.
The Privilege Meme, and the Take a Step Forward exercise, was developed at Indiana State University to explore class and targeted at college students in the United States and recent college graduates, explains Will Barratt, a professor at Indiana State University and one of the developers of the meme, on the college’s Web site.
“We designed a small group experience on privilege as a way to explore class, creating a list of items grounded in the published research literature and in our interviews as markers of privilege. Our assumption was that that privilege is one way to explore class,” he explains on Indiana State University’s Web site.
For the in-class exercise, students stand in a line and respond to a series of questions (posted below). Students take a step forward each time they answer yes. In the end, students are standing in different places in the room illustrating levels of privilege.
I find this interesting and somewhat scary. Should I add memes such as this to my personal (internal) parenting guide?
I can answer “yes” to 22 of 34 questions. So if I want my daughter to achieve more than I, should I make sure she can answer yes all 34 – at least?
These things go around the Internet all of the time. This one is a little different because it was developed in an academic setting, not just by someone writing questions for a favorite drink quiz (although I answer those, too). And while one classroom exercise or meme does not a parenting/lifestyle/career guide make, I agree with my friend, on whose journal I found the Privilege Meme; these questions are quite good.
My friend posted her responses in her online journal and received some interesting comments. One thread was particularly engaging as she and another friend discussed the idea that answering these questions in a classroom setting could be embarrassing for someone who doesn’t have as many opportunities to step forward.
Their discussion centered around the difference in life experience and opportunity, in this case measured as things someone is privileged to have instead of things they earned. The discussion thread just stopped – kind of like they agreed to disagree – so I wonder if this came up the next time they met in person.
As a parent, I want it all for my child. I want to open as many doors for her as possible while instilling in her the drive and ability to open them on her own. The Privilege Meme tells me that enriching myself is as important as encouraging my child. And activities together, from simply reading to planning a trip, are important. Maybe not a guide, but interesting insight into what personal and family experiences are considered to be privileged.
For instance – notice that there are two questions about number of books in a home, and not the number of televisions (there is one question about the location of a television). Seems like the meme is hinting that access to (cheap) books ranks higher on a scale of privilege than access to (expensive) big HD TVs. (To be clear, there is an updated version on the school’s Web site that would apply to students today that includes a question about computers in the home as well).
My answers are below. The questions I answered “yes” to are bold. Post your answers as well and let’s discuss.
This meme was developed by Minnette Huck, Meagan Cahill, Stacy Ploskonka, Drew Lurker, Angie Carlen and Will Barratt. The developers hold the copyright and ask participants in this blog game to acknowledge their copyright.
1. Father went to college.
2. Father finished college.
3. Mother went to college.
4. Mother finished college.
5. 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 SAT/ACT prep course.
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 family.
32. 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.
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I think as of right now our children will be thinking about things like our grandparents did. The world will never be the same again because of everything we’ve seen lately.
investing of MA
Oct. 19, 2008 at 01:50 PM
Britney Spears has millions of dollars but look at her kids. Would you call them privileged?
Britney Spe
Jul. 24, 2008 at 10:17 PM
Very interesting concept. But aside from increased awareness of class, what is the ultimate effect of being highly privileged? Is a privileged upbringing something that poisons children? Or is it something that enriches them? In other words, if your child is in that class and answers “yes” to most of the questions, does that show bad parenting or good parenting?
It’s also worth noting that one of the questions directly asks if you have a relative that’s an attorney. In my own line of work, I struggle so that everyone can find a lawyer, not just the privileged. However, we still have a lot of work to do because a large chunk of the population is completely cut off from the legal system unless they’re being subjected to it involuntarily.
-Nick from Avvo.
Nick from Avvo
Jun. 27, 2008 at 05:14 PM
i will answer no to all questions, no matter what they are.
Retire
May. 27, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Our intention of the experience, designed as a face to face group experience, was to begin to talk about privilege as a way to begin to talk about class. When this went meme, thanks to Jeanne, we were pleased generally that people took time to think about class and privilege. Some got angry and denied that class and privilege were issues, and some, like you, took the time to think it through.
Privilege and class are more than money and achievement. On the other hand our list reflects social capital, cultural capital, academic capital, family capital, and economic capital (thanks to Pierre Bourdieu for expanding the idea of capital). Social class is also an identity, also a cultural identification, also a system of privilege and oppression, and even more. Of course you want to provide for your children so that they can make their way in life well. Investing in children is always a good thing.
Thanks - Will
Will Barratt of Indiana State University
Feb. 3, 2008 at 10:01 AM
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