Undeserved Disadvantage

Why is it that sometimes we have to spin things in order to talk about what we really want to talk about? What is undeserved disadvantage? It’s often the recognition that some folks just have it worse off because of their station in life, or because of the group they have been identified with or identify with themselves.

The other side of this privilege. I can already hear people clicking off with just the mention of the word. Privilege doesn’t mean that life is hunky dory. It means that you benefit from a system. It’s likely you didn’t set it up. You may not even know it exists. It’s designed to be like that. It’s designed to make it seem like what you are experiencing is normal and the norm that others should be measured against.

You aren’t good or bad because of privilege or being undeservedly disadvantaged. Both are caught in bondage to a system that is not good. And both suffer as a result. Yes, even the privileged person. They just may not realize the damage that is being done to them.

Here’s how I’ve encounter privilege. Privilege means not having to respond to things — either because you don’t think they impact you (and that’s all that matters), or you don’t believe they exist (because you haven’t experienced it first hand).

Undeserved disadvantage means you have no choice but to deal with things because they do impact you — very directly. Often there is no escape for you either. You are stuck. And often there are no good options, maybe just less worse options.