on privilege
- Ruby Sophia
- Nov 8, 2025
- 2 min read
Last summer, my family and I went to San Francisco. It was so fun! One thing that really stuck with me was when we visited the Exploratorium (I would recommend it, it was so interesting!) and there was this one section it had bean bags one was "if you speak fluent english" and the other one was "if you don't speak fluent english" and I speak english fluently its my first language and that one was a lot lighter than the not speaking fluent english bean bag it showed me my privilege it showed me how much easier existing in America was speaking English but then there were others like being disabled vs. not that weighed my bag down and made it heavier showing how I was disadvantaged I could have had a lot worse lot in life but I don't and I think that its very important to recognize our privilege and how we can use that to benefit those with less.
So what is privilege? Privilege is an unearned advantage. Let's take being white as an example. I didn't do anything to earn being white, I didn't choose to be white, I can't do anything about being white, and yet I have privilege because of the color of my skin.
What is intersectionality? Intersectionality is the idea that you have a personal mix of privilege and discrimination that is different than others and affects how you are treated, if you are hired, etc., etc.
How to spot your privilege:
Are you . . .
less than 40 or older than 40
Christian or non-Christian
middle/upper class or lower class
disabled or not
Speak English fluently and without an accent or not
male or female
heterosexual or homosexual
white or not white
And of course, there are many other ways that you are privileged or not beyond these, but in general, I have a lot of privilege. I'm white, I'm middle/upper class, I'm a Christian, I'm young, and I want to learn how to use my privilege to advocate for others. I read an entire book about how to be an ally and to stand up for others who can't stand up for themselves, while also stepping back and allowing them to take a stand, because a white, privileged person doesn't need to save other people; they can do that themselves. So, no matter how much your burdens weigh, there are people out there who will understand, and those who will not. Hopefully, there are also people in your community who want to help and support you, even if they don't fully understand.
Some infographics:
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