“Privilege” is a loaded term. It’s meant to cause awareness, but often provokes indignation instead.
We’re not talking about the privilege that conveys a special honour associated with an action. Rather, the privilege that describes an inherently advantageous position that certain groups experience by virtue of their characteristics, such as one’s gender or race.
The dogma around privilege is messy. I don’t pretend to grasp it very well, so won’t attempt to present it.
Allow me to offer a case study, instead:
After completing a long run, I often drink ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) in order to aid my recovery. ORS helps the body to replace fluids and minerals. It’s usually cheap: costing less than USD 0.50 per sachet.
..but ORS is intended for medical use, in particular for diarrhoeal illnesses such as cholera.
I live in DR Congo, a country that still records thousands of cholera cases each year. In 2019, there were at least 540 deaths among 31,000 cases. For many, accessing health care is made difficult or impossible through geographical isolation and lack of financial means, among other barriers.
Some die for lack of ORS. But I’m taking it to recover more quickly from running.
This juxtaposition served as a stark reminder of the privileged position I’m in.