Chris

This list is based on an exercise that is copyrighted by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University.

Bolding the ones that apply to me.  Italics are ones I'm not sure of.  My comments are underneath the bullet-item.

• Father went to college.
• Father finished college.
  You know, I don't think so, but I'm not sure.  He sure hadn't by the time I was about 24, so.
• Mother went to college.
  I remember barely seeing her, as she worked during the day, then went to night school.
• Mother finished college.
• Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor.
• Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
  I couldn't possibly say.  Maybe the same?  Most likely not higher?
• Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
• Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
  Mmm, science fiction forever.
• Were read children's books by a parent.
• Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18.
  I'm fairly certain I had speech lessons, as I had a stutter-or-lisp.  Not sure that counts, but I'm listing it.
• 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.
  W-ell, we're sort of portrayed neutrally.  (Think Roseanne, more for dynamics than for class, but still.)  I suppose that could translate to positively, given the current culture.
• Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
  I did have a bank account, but that doesn't count, I don't think.  Does it?
• 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.
  Absolutely not.  My first car was a shitty Dodge Daytona, bought for $100 because it wouldn't start.  I miss it.
• There was original art in your house when you were a child.
• Had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
  I had a pager, that I bought myself…?
• You and your family lived in a single family house.
  Townhouse first, then a "real" 5-bedroom house.
• Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home.
• You had your own room as a child.
  My sister and I shared a room until I was in my late teens, from what I recall, so I'm not sure how much this goes for.
• Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course.
  I did take the SAT, but the extent of my prepping was reading whatever guide came with it.
• Had your own TV in your room in High School.
  I had one when I was younger than that, but it was a shitty 6"-screen black-and-white job.
• 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 was unaware of the cost of anything, as a kid.

Apparently, one would, for that original exercise, take a step forward for each bolded item.  I would have taken 9 steps forward, and then held up the exercise another 6 times while I clarified what the exercise-givers meant.

Originally posted at Xtinian Thoughts.  Comment here or there.

At LJ, saveyoursanity writes on male privilege.

Originally posted at Xtinian Thoughts.  Comment here or there.

"I mean, what kind of privileges do straight white men ever get?"

"What about men's suffering?"

"That double-standard is racism against whites!"

Originally posted at Xtinian Thoughts.  Comment here or there.