The notion of privilege can be difficult for many people to process. It might be more helpful to understand it as spared injustice; harmful experiences we were protected from, due to our closeness to the ideals of the different, intersecting systems of oppression.
Adapted from a range of sources, this is a checklist to help you think about your own experiences of injustice and discrimination and those you have been spared from, but your colleagues, friends, external networks and stakeholders might not.
~Content Warning~
There are fifty items on the checklist, and they are shuffled for each participant. There are statements on this list that might find uncomfortable or trigger difficult emotions or past experiences. I would suggest before you start, get comfortable and ensure you have a refreshment, a fidget, or an emotional anchor nearby in case you need it.
Please stop if you need to; take a break or leave it altogether. Breathe and remind yourself that you are currently safe.
If you need to, reach out to an appropriate person or organisation. Remember, self-care is itself an act of activism!
Responses are anonymous and specifically designed act as a catalyst for self-reflection. No personal or identifiable information will be collected. Individual responses are periodically deleted.
If you have any questions or concerns, please email hello@louchiu.com. You are, also, welcome to reach out if you wanted to explore with me your reaction and reflections on this exercise.