Why won't anyone think of the privileged?
It is truly disheartening to realize that in this world where just about every marginalized group gets its fair share of attention and minorities have rightfully taken center stage, there’s one group whose plight few dare discuss—the privileged.
But this ends today.
No longer shall the forgotten elite quietly suffer under the extraordinary weight of their advantages. Not on my watch.
I realize that you’ve been called on to provide a great deal of empathy as of late: For the unhoused, for the ethnically diverse and marginalized, for those who identify as women, for those who deserve at least several seats on a plane, and those struggling with life challenging health conditions—but I must once again call on you and empathize with those who will never have to worry about shelter, sustenance, health conditions, discrimination, or social standing.
No, their challenges are far more unique. Imagine, if you will, how difficult it is to smile politely while still recovering from the latest session of botox as they sip champagne with their equally privileged acquaintances whom they do not even like. Consider the immense pressure that it takes to ensure that one always has the latest designer purse on-hand, especially when the previous one is perfectly fine and the new one is sold out everywhere. The connections it takes, even for a privileged person to acquire it. To paraphrase beloved children’s author George Orwell: All privileged people are equally privileged, but some privileged people are more privileged than others.
For the fortunate unprivileged, going on a vacation is easy. You save for years and daydream for equally as long as to where you’d like to go. But for the privileged, it’s a curse. There’s so many options. How do you even begin to choose? There’s just endless travel in first class, well, because you can. It’s not even that exciting anymore. Emirates First Class Lounge, Dubai? That’s so yesterday. The privileged face a real struggle when it comes to having too many choices when it comes to just about anything. Private jet or yacht? Gucci or Dior? Bentley or Porsche? Caviar or foie gras? Tiffany or Cartier? Why not both?
We call it the invisible shackles (diamond studded, of course).
It’s a burden, but often it is invisible to the uninitiated because they handle it with such grace and sophistication. It cannot be understood by those who have had the privilege of not having privilege.
Meanwhile, while you work for a paycheck, the privileged have the impossible task of having to figure out how to spend their trust funds. It’s a full time job too, you know.
Of course the most daunting aspect of being privileged is not knowing whether your friends like you for you, or the luxurious vacations you take them on and the lavish gifts you buy them. If only there was a way to find out?
While they are often mocked in a culture that’s jealous of them, the privileged minority is just as deserving of our empathy and understanding as any non-binary person. As such, we must strive to create a world where they are able to share stories of struggle and hardship without fear of judgement. Safe spaces for the privileged. That is how we achieve true equality—a world where every person, regardless of their privilege, can be acknowledged for their suffering and victimhood.
After all, is that not what privilege is truly all about?
Do you agree? In what other ways are the privileged victims of systemic oppression? Leave a comment below.
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Who am I? I’m a writer with an overactive imagination and a random mind. Outside of Substack, you’ll find my work in publications such as Newsweek, WIRED, Variety, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Esquire, Playboy, Mashable, CNN Travel, The Independent, and many others.
I assume that this article is sarcastic, but no joke, constantly having immense privilege removes some of the enjoyment, as half of the happiness comes from actively gaining it, so if you always had something, you consider it the default experience, just like some more underprivileged individuals might consider being 10k in debt and working paycheck to paycheck the default experience.
Well played! LOL