Where we take a headline from “The Onion” and write an objectively finer article
“Visa Announces Cards Can Now Be Inserted, Swiped, Tapped, Bent, Clapped, Rolled, Shoved, Thrown, Dangled, Slid, Or Whacked”—The Onion, 7/7/22
Privilege comes in many forms. There’s the classic male privilege (see Taylor Swift’s The Man). There’s white privilege (see every article about people changing their names on their resumes to Anglophonic ones). There’s cishet privilege in the medical and healthcare system. The Western world has been tailored to make the lives of its creators, cishet white men, the easiest. Even in New Zealand, Māori and Pasifika families are still hurt by the aftershocks of colonialism. Yes, we celebrated Matariki as a public holiday for the first time, but not even a year ago, the government’s vaccine mandate put Māori and Pasifika communities at a disproportionate risk. Recently, society has begun recognising some of the flaws of the world. Movements such as #MeToo, #StarringJohnCho, and #BlackLivesMatter highlight the inequalities minorities face daily and start laying the foundation for sustainable change.
We’ve even been holding individuals accountable on a personal level. Those around me have been reminding each other when using my pronouns; friends are calling each other out for using offensive terms that were part of pop culture’s dictionary; even large corporations recognise the need to introduce sustainable options (even if they still contribute the most to carbon emissions). It’s great that we’ve decided to introduce these basic human rights changes, and I love those individuals who recognise and acknowledge their privilege, but it is time to stop attacking others for something they have no control over.
I remember being in my second year, mad at everyone (including myself) about scholars who lived with their parents and had meals cooked for them. But my anger and hurt didn’t change my standing, and I found myself questioning why I wanted other people to lose out on things I was upset about.
It’s not about resenting others for what you don’t have, nor about being grateful for what you do have; it’s about not competing at all. It is not your responsibility or duty to make the world equitable, nor does anyone else owe you that. But also that’s okay! Not being nice does not equate to being mean. The world is neither against you nor with you; it just exists. Once we realise that, we stop trying to find reasons and blame for situations no one has any control over. There are multiple ways of doing life, none of which are right or wrong. The more I thought about it, the more I realised that this wasn’t just about privilege. Privilege isn’t something that just pops out of thin air. When those with privilege have their achievements discredited, it introduces a culture of shame. Many Asian kids who live at home and have their meals cooked for them are (or are the children of) immigrants who have fought for a better life for their children. It’s not a targeted attack to disadvantage others but a pursuit of betterment for the future.
So, when we look at the privileges within academia (even if it is to envy those who can afford to go to Munchy Mart every day), take a minute, and realise that all we can do is try our best. Sure, this is some cheesy advice, but just like how you’re responsible for your feelings, you’re also in charge of rewarding yourself for the things that matter to you.
Donkey’s Conclusion: as Hannah Montana said, “pop it, lock it, polka dot it”.
