Because most philosophies that frown on reproduction don't survive.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Privileged Meme

From What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.)

Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers. Not really applicable for homeschooling, I think.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 Piano lessons over the course of 12 years.
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
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
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs One of my college loans in is my dad's name, but I'm paying it off.
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18 Oh, I wish! Lotsa hand-me-downs and thrift shop finds.
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 On and off
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home My dad bought his Victorian foursquare when I was a sophomore in college.
25. You had your own room as a child I had my own room on and off, depending on where we lived, but not until I was a teenager.
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18
27. Participated in a 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 Not that often -- mostly as homeschooling field trips
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

14 out of 34 = 41% privileged

Borrowed from Entropy , who scored as 32% privileged.

5 comments:

Jennifer @ Conversion Diary said...

Wow, this is so interesting. What strikes me is that I got 82%, as would any of my high school friends who did this...and we were all totally miserable. Quite a few kids in my social circle made the rounds of the local psych ward in high school, and almost all of us struggled with pretty serious depression. Fascinating.

Anonymous said...

38% (13 out of 34) for me.

Patrick said...

74%. Thanks; it's good to keep that in mind, and not just lump myself into the general "suburban middle class upbringing".

Anonymous said...

18% here(rounded up from 17.6%). I'm almost 50 so that probably makes a difference...

Anonymous said...

Had more than 50 books in your childhood home. (Mom loved books and passed the love on to me and my brother.)


Were read children's books by a parent. (Mom)


You and your family lived in a single-family house (Beginning when I was 12.)

Had your own TV in your room in high school. (Portable black and white).

Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home. (Mom, Dad and the Bank.)

14% "privileged"

The exercise overlooks some important "privileges" I enjoyed:

1. Mom and Dad loved each other till "Death do us part".

2. Neither parent drank to excess or used illegal drugs.

3. Kids brought up with strict moral code and strong religious beliefs.

4. Strong sense of humor pervaded household.

5. Taught that you could rely on family.

6. Kids given chores at early age.

7. Parents encouraged kids to get college educations and be first in family to do so, and that God gave us brains for a purpose.

8. Parents showed by example what hard work and persistance can accomplish against long odds.

9. Constructive criticism by parents and not destructive harping.

10. Amply demonstrated that the most important things in life are well beyond the reach of money.

I only wish that kids from economically "privileged" families who I have represented in criminal matters over the years who came from chaotic family backgrounds had all enoyed the privileges that I was fortunate enough to enjoy as I grew up.