Monthly Archives: January 2008

The bolded bits apply to me. (Stolen from Wyliekat)

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college (and then some – he’s a PhD)
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college (and then some – she’s a PhD)
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor (sister is an attorney, parents and some grandparents are professors)
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home (thousands, probably)
9. Were read children’s books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18 (gymnastics, piano, viola, voice)
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like you are portrayed positively (In the sense of being white and upper-middle class, yes. In the sense of being female, less so.)
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs (I went to the college where my father taught, so my tuition was covered.)
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18 (for specific subjects)
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 (au contraire – I think my mom made every stitch of my clothing until I was about five, and then it was all about thrift stores and hand-me-downs)
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child
23. You and your family lived in a single family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home (I assume this means own outright, not just living in and paying a mortgage)
25. You had your own room as a child
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in an SAT/ACT prep course
28. Had your own TV in your room in High School
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in High School or College
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
31. Went on a cruise with your family
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

The list is based on “What Privileges do You Have?” an exercise developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. The exercise developers ask that if you participate in this blog game, you acknowledge their copyright.

I always knew I was privileged, but looking at this list, boy HOWDY was I privileged – even though my family was pretty cash-poor (like, public assistance poor) for most of my childhood. It’s interesting to think what this list will look like for the Hatchling. I imagine she’ll bold the same ones I have plus some – though certain entries on this list, such as the TV in her room and the credit card in her name, will only happen over my dead body. Feel free to post your own privileges in the comments.