You know why I rage so hard about "welfare queens" and assorted such bullshit?

[feuervogel]

I got free lunch starting in 4th grade.

We wore off-brand, knock-off clothes, or clothes from second-hand shops.

We got food at the store where they send the dented cans.

When my mom's 78 Olds started to die (in 1991), she wasn't sure she'd be able to get a replacement vehicle.

When I got The Letter from CTY, mom wouldn't let me go because we couldn't afford it, even with the scholarships available.

When my high school German club did an exchange program, I begged and pleaded to go, because I thought it would be a once in a lifetime opportunity. (My grandparents paid for most of it. I was lucky to have extended family with money.)

It was the first time I was on a plane.

I was 16.

I didn't get new eyeglasses as often as necessary.

We didn't have health insurance.

I know it could have been worse, and I know I'm lucky -- privileged -- to have had a PhD grandfather who worked as a grant reviewer at NIH, who could cover things like clothes or food or help with the house payment when mom was laid off again.

I also know that there are a lot of people in the 15% of the population we were better off than who don't have access to middle-class grandparents or other forms of help than welfare.

Those of you who grew up in your comfortable middle-class families, whose parents didn't have to worry about being able to repair the roof when you found a puddle in the living room, and don't realize just how goddamn lucky you fucking were and think your experience is what everyone has, who think that everyone can do what you did through Hard Work, are really goddamn naïve.

That naïvete is your privilege. The way you think the world works only holds true for the top 50%.

Examine your fucking privilege. You might gain some compassion in the process.

Comments

[feuervogel]

Handy list of privilege lists

[amakarie.livejournal.com]

I grew up upper-middle class and took for granted a lot of things, then my mom lost her house, her job, and lived off of food stamps and was near homelessness (twice). Without the government support system (as well as her church aka charity) she would have never survived.

[thegreyghost.livejournal.com]

I worry that correlating fortune with those privileges discounts the people/families that afford themselves a higher lifestyle in earnest. Whether we're dealt a good or bad hand, it's up to us to play the game.

Most of my bosses have been women (of various ethnicity) and being a white, straight male hasn't saved me from my bouts with unemployment. Whatever privileges I have, they're still kicking my ass and they've earned my respect.

[thegreyghost.livejournal.com]

I guess I should also add that I don't oppose welfare. A lot of folks need a hand and they should get it.

But resenting people who don't need it feels like unfair demonizing.