The Power of Privilege

With 'Occupy Vancouver' hot at our doorstep I thought that it was suitable to write my second blog on the power of privilege. Privilege is something that advantaged groups have a hard time seeing. This is not always just because they are cold hearted mean spirited bigots, but because when you are privileged you do not have to be aware of it. As Allan G. Johnson points out in his book on privilege, power and difference (2006), being part of an advantaged group in society allows you the privilege of not having to face the negative consequences of inequality because your privilege is considered normal. What I mean to say here is that you may not feel anything positive coming our of your privilege because you are 'merely' being treated like a normal member of society due to it.

For example: When I meet my friends at a restaurant for dinner I hop on the bus, have my pleasant social dinner and head home. Apart from any interesting events that conspire between my friends and I, most of my experience is not noteworthy.

However, would my experience be different if I was in a wheelchair? Perhaps the already full bus during dinner time rush hour would not be able to pick me up and due to that I would arrive late or not at all for that matter. What if the restaurant that my friends chose for us to eat at was a small one without enough room for me to fit through the door or sit comfortably at the table? Would I have been forced to leave? How would my friends treat me differently? Would they even be my friends?

In other words my able-bodied privilege is something that I don't have to think about. However, I experience the positive effects of it every day without batting an eyelash.

When asking yourself my favorite question: "Why" is this protest against inequality going on right now, try to remember that you are blind to your privilege. Furthermore, keep in mind that you did not earn your privilege in an equal society and therefore, you do not fully deserve it. You may refute me and say that you have worked hard, you didn't live outside your means and you always did the 'right' thing, but you have to ask yourself: to which groups do I belong in this society? How would my life have been different if I were psychologically ill, non able-bodied, non-heterosexual, female, part of a disadvantaged racial minority group or addicted to drugs? Does the current application of the capitalist system still seem fair from that perspective?

Should we be using our tax dollars to bail out giant corporations who made bad choices given all the privileges that they are alloted? Why is it okay to help the privileged and not okay to help the disadvantaged? Why should the distribution of wealth be coming from the bottom up? Shouldn't the people who are already part of an advantaged group, who have the most money be contributing the most? Let me put it this way, if you were a wealthy white man would you ask your female friend who is a single, unemployed mother of three, with a psychological illness to lend you money because one of your business deals went sour?

I sure hope not.

Anyways, to anyone who has taken the time to actually read my rant, I thank you! Until next time, keep asking 'why'-it makes life so much more interesting!

The "F" Word

My first question why is: why is feminism called the "F" word? Why is it considered a dirty word these days that even the strong and smart ladies shy away from?

I was watching a documentary the other day where the interviewer asked an average woman, "How would you define a feminist?" and she replied, "Someone who believes in equal rights." then he asked, "Would you consider yourself a feminist?" and she said "No."

No, she doesn't believe in equal rights. This scares me. Does she and do you think that in order to be a feminist you have to be like a man? Does she and do you think that feminism is the evil feminist's attempt to change a patriarchal system into a matriarchal one? Does she and do you think that feminism is no longer necessary?

When I researched why, the answers to these questions were yes. However, I realized that I will have to keep asking my favorite question..."why?" Because I'm a feminist and I am not at all like a man. I'm a feminist and I don't want a matriarchal system, I want an equal system. I'm just an average lady and I think that feminism is still necessary. Why you ask? Good question.

Men are still getting paid more than women for the same job, to see for yourself check Census Canada. There is no subsidized child care, yet it is necessary for both parents to work now just to make ends meet. Abortion is still illegal in some states and Nelly is still swiping his credit card down half naked ladies butt cracks in music videos! Not to mention all the other injustices towards women that are not in our backyard!

So, from this day forward may I forever be tarnished by the "F" word and I will wear it like a badge of honor because the war against society is not over... not for me. Don't forget to keep asking why my friends, take the red pill and jump down the rabbit hole... you may be surprised by what you find down there~

Why Psychological Melfunkshins?

The human experience fascinates me. Since I was a child I have been obsessed with people and how they do things. My favorite all time question for the people I am so lucky to share my life and time with is "why". Why did you do that? Why did you say that? Why do you think that? "Why" is such a wonderful question and although I know it can be tiresome and irritating at times and I can come across like a child who never made it past the age of three, "why" has kept me going over the years. "Why" prevents me from becoming angry and jaded. "Why" has given me the answers to things that would have otherwise seemed irrational and pointless. There is always an anwser to "why" and it is not necessarily the answer I would have assumed, had I not asked.

After 29 years of asking "why" and only two years of studying it at a university level I am in no respect an expert on the matter, but I am still motivated and inspired to keep asking! So... I am going to take a leap of faith and open myself up to you by sharing some of my experiences. I will try not to talk out of my ass by attempting to reference, as much as possible, the brilliant men and women who are experts in the fields of psychology, sociology, and philosophy (AKA "the gods of why"). Psychological Melfunkshins will still consist mostly of my opionions, thoughts and experiences and though they should be taken with a grain of salt, it is my hope that they will entertain or, maybe, possibly, slightly, hopefully??? ...INSPIRE you in some way... But I don't want to get ahead of myself here! It's just wonderful to have the oppertunity to write about something I love.

Attempting to scratch the surface,

Melfunkshin