Privilege Awareness Exercise

This exercise is designed to help you explore the concept of privilege and how it might be shaping your perceptions and experiences. Privilege refers to unearned advantages that individuals have based on their membership in certain social groups (e.g., race, gender, class, sexual orientation, ability). It's important to understand that acknowledging privilege is not about blaming or shaming individuals. It's about recognizing the systemic inequalities that exist in our society and how they impact us all. This exercise is an invitation to self-reflection and increased awareness.

Important Considerations:

• Be Gentle with Yourself: This exercise may bring up uncomfortable emotions. Approach it with self-compassion and allow yourself to feel whatever arises.

• This is a Process: Understanding privilege is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Be patient with yourself and continue to learn and grow.

• Focus on Awareness, Not Guilt: The goal is not to feel guilty, but to become more aware of how privilege operates. Guilt can be paralyzing; awareness can lead to action.

• Intersectionality: Remember that privilege and oppression are interconnected. You may experience privilege in some areas and marginalization in others.

Part 1: Journaling Prompts

Take some time to reflect on the following prompts. Write as much or as little as feels comfortable. There are no right or wrong answers.

1. Race:

• How has your racial identity shaped your experiences in life?

• Have you ever benefited from your race in ways that others might not?

• Have you ever been treated differently because of your race?

• What assumptions do you make about people based on their race? Where did these assumptions come from?

• What are your first memories with race?

2. Gender:

• How has your gender identity shaped your experiences?

• Have you ever benefited from your gender in ways that others might not?

• Have you ever been treated differently because of your gender?

• What are some societal expectations associated with your gender? How have these expectations impacted you?

3. Class:

• What was the socioeconomic status of your family growing up?

• How has your class background influenced your access to education, healthcare, and other resources?

• Have you ever felt judged or discriminated against because of your class?

• What assumptions do you make about people based on their perceived class?

4. Sexual Orientation:

• How has your sexual orientation shaped your experiences?

• Have you ever benefited from being heterosexual (if applicable)?

• Have you ever faced discrimination or prejudice because of your sexual orientation?

• What assumptions do you make about people based on their sexual orientation?

5. Ability:

• How has your physical and mental ability shaped your experiences?

• Have you ever benefited from being able-bodied (if applicable)?

• Have you ever faced barriers or discrimination because of a disability?

• What assumptions do you make about people based on their abilities?

6. Other Privileges:

• Consider other areas of privilege, such as:

• Citizenship status

• Religious affiliation

• Education level

• Age

• Body size

• Language

• How might these aspects of your identity have granted you unearned advantages?

7. Intersectionality:

• How do your different identities intersect?

• Are there areas where you experience both privilege and oppression?

• How do your privileges impact your interactions with people who have different identities?

8. Action:

• What is one thing you can do to become more aware of your privileges?

• How can you use your privileges to challenge systemic inequalities?

• What is one thing that you will commit to?