This is about the concept of “privilege”, as it is used by certain people today. \u00a0As in “you’re privileged, I’m not, therefore shut up”. I’m not going to get into what’s wrong with this line of arguing. \u00a0What I am going to discuss is the problem of working out who, exactly, is privileged.<\/p>\n
Some of you may have heard of the bouhaha about Oprah being refused a handbag by a racist store clerk. \u00a0Clearly an example of ‘privilege’ at work, yes? \u00a0Well, there’s another story – of a service-job holder whose life has been turned into a living hell by one of the most powerful and privileged people on the planet due to a simple misunderstanding (she says that she had simply said that the bag Oprah was interested in was the same as the one in her hand).<\/p>\n
One cannot say for sure which of these is right. \u00a0I do suspect that this is a misunderstanding, given that English isn’t exactly widely spoken in Switzerland, and that the clerk’s comments weren’t clear. \u00a0On the other hand, this is the first time I’ve heard of a store recommending that you spend less.<\/p>\n
What I can say, however, is that one of these two people can get lots of air and press coverage, and one has given only one interview that I have been able to find<\/a>, despite being in danger of destitution. \u00a0 So, that’s something to consider when using the term ‘privilege’ loosely.<\/p>\n