Equality: Privilege and underprivilege

Our society, in its desire for equality, has to realise the many differences in social divison due to the structured world. Living for equality is commonly thought to be supported however never acted as the privileged are criticized but not changed. The cycle of privilege will keep going strong unless there is recognition and agency for change. Yet the privileged are not comfortable or willing to give up or reduce their benefits in the fear of disadvantage as they can see its impacts on life (seen in the photo below), however they are unwilling to remove the 'false conscious' from their minds (Pease, 2010). Also the underprivileged are seen to have no choice in their status and blame or discourage themselves for their 'lower' position. This disadvantage can cause a struggle for agency and a way out of their marginalisation. 

The ideal of social justice is challenged by inequality, as everyone from birth does not have a clean slate and does not have immediate freedom of choice rather they are subjects of their social position (Urban, 1979). If everyone in the name of equality had the desire to owe everything to themselves and start a fresh with life, without parental assets or help I believe the world would be a very different place at first. However later as society forms the structure of privilege would also form.

To change the structure of privilege there are certain measures Urban (1979) has challenged me to believe that could be taken. This includes the idea of agency to change, for example if born in a disadvantaged neighbourhood and you accept its consequences without a fight then you have minimal hope to change your the cycle and underprivilege will continue. However, if you recognise your ability and opportunities to improve yourself, then gap between privilege and underprivilege could lessen. I believe change the structure of privilege and underprivilege people must work hard with human agency regarding breaking the barrier. Therefore to make a difference in equality the ignorance of change and unconsciousness of advantage or disadvantage needs to be recognised.


References:
Pease, B. (2000). Oppression, Privilege and Relations of Domination. In Undoing Privilege: Unearned Advantage in a Divided World. London: Zed Books

Urban, J. (1979). Equality and privileges. United Kingdom: International Journal of Politics, 9(1), 27-40.