Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
Someone Asked “What’s A Privilege People Act As If It Isn’t?” And 30 People Didn’t Hold Back
It’s easy to take so much of one’s life for granted. The entire concept of privilege revolves around the idea that going through life without noticing major issues is a privilege all in of itself. So it can help to expand one’s horizons a bit and learn from other’s experiences.
Someone asked “What's a privilege people act as if it isn't?” and netizens shared the examples they have encountered in their own lives. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorite examples and be sure to share your own thoughts, stories and experiences in the comments section below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Supportive parents.
People coming from loving families don't even get how lucky they are.
RELATED:
#3
Time. If I have to take the bus while you use your car, we do not have the same 24 hours in a day.
EDIT: I think y'all are too focused on my example. Also, sure, you might be able to read on a bus, but you can't do your laundry.
If you can afford a housekeeping service and I can't, we don't have the same 24 hours in a day.
If you can afford a lawnmowing service and I can't, we don't have the same 24 hours in a day.
If you have to care for an ailing parent and I don't, we don't have the same 24 hours in a day.
If you have to work two jobs to pay off some debt your ex saddled you with when they split and I don't, we don't have the same 24 hours in a day.
If you have a physical handicap that makes navigating the world more time consuming and I don't, we don't have the same 24 hours in a day.
If you have a chronic health condition that requires frequent medical appointments and I don't, we don't have the same 24 hours in a day.
And time equals opportunity for: exercise, doctors appointments, hobbies, socializing, more work, improving living situation, etc.
Time is a privilege.
Auntriarch 6 months ago
You have to phrase a post or a comment really carefully to avoid the "yeah, but"s
#6
Being healthy. I was diagnosed with my first chronic illness at 15, I’m 32 and I’m f*****g exhausted. I loathe people who say “you’re too young to be tired!” Those people have really never known true physical suffering.
Aileen Grist 6 months ago
I can't remember a time when I wasn't in pain, just thought it was me and everyone else felt the same but didn't show it (cat walking on thigh muscle excruciating at 7 yrs old, sitting on a stool in science class and my back aching something terrible). I was 38 when I was told I had fibromyalgia and had probably had it since I had TB at 3 years of age.
#8
Having friends or at least a decently stable group of friends to count on.
#9
Being physically attractive is a major privilege that doesn’t really get acknowledged.
#10
Having running water. You’d be surprised how much of the world does not have that. When I was growing up as a kid in northwest India, we used to make a human chain to get water from the community tap. My mom at the head fending off others and putting our vessel. Then me, my middle sister and then my eldest sister who would go an pour it in a big vessel. We had several of those big vessels. That was our water storage. After pooping, we would fill a small bucket to flush the toilet. It was only after I was around the college going age and started earning money after taking tuitions of younger kids and my sister got a government job that we could afford water and a pump to fill a big tank on the rooftop and get a semblance of running water.
#11
Eating what you want and being able to afford it . ( m not talking about gold flakes on a burger or caviar , just like simple dumplings or even salad or even bread and butter )
As a kid I grew up in a communist “paradise” . At some point towards the end of the regime things got so bad - we had to eat cabbage and potatoes ( and NOTHING ELSE) for the entire winter - for about 4 months .
When I tasted sunflower oil after that - it tasted like ambrosia .
Becca not Becky 6 months ago
I grew up with limited financial means. As an adult, the majority of my extra income goes toward foods that I enjoy eating. It feels like a privilege every time.
#12
Having a job with a regular schedule and guaranteed days off on holidays for sure.
#13
Travelling. Hearing people talking about how you're closed minded if you don't travel, as if everybody gets the choice.
Javelina Poppers 6 months ago
I'm a road trip freak and will seek out any and all obscure roads. I shun interstates and major US highways because there's so much more to see once you get off the beaten track. I hope I never lose this ability.
#15
OWNING a house, even if your parents are the one who own it.
#16
Being raised well, some of us had are developmental years torn to pieces, feels like being set up to fail as an adult, has you wondering if your parents ever liked you, or if if they were just stupid.
#17
Opportunity. I have a few affluent friends that, in high school, were able to get excellent grades and extremely high SAT scores because their parents had wealth and, therefore, could provide them opportunities for support. For example, one friend, who is now a psychiatrist, was 3rd in our class of 600+ kids because his grades were amazing. After school he’d go home and study and his parents paid for SAT prep courses, giving him ample opportunity to succeed. Meanwhile, after school I would go to work because my parents had little money, so car payments, gas, clothes, school lunches, cell phone, etc. fell to me. That’s 5 hours I didn’t have to dedicate to studying. People take things like this for granted.
#18
Working from home. People who don't have to squeeze time out to wake up early, shower, dress, rush their breakfast and get stuck in a traffic for 40 minutes have more time than us who have to go to work in office daily. Talk about having time to clean the house, save money on cooking at home and exercising after work. The time we lost is the time you gained.
#20
Whole crews going around gathering up garbage. Clean water flowing directly to your house. Sanitation is crucial for a healthy society.
Michael Largey 6 months ago
Yet people complain about taxes as if the things mentioned here arrive for free.
#21
Libraries.
Fancy Nancy 6 months ago
One our greatest resources! You can borrow books, access the internet, borrow movies and music. Most libraries have wonderful learning programs , support group meetings, and game tournaments.
#22
Never having food insecurity. Some people have access to so much food that it would make others' heads spin.
#23
Basic medicine, especially for children. I know that the modern medical system has its flaws but kids used to die from stuff that is cured by $5 in medicine now is wild. .
#24
Having a pet of any kind. The vet bills , decent food, appropriate training, equipment.
#25
Leaving the home and being able to return safely everyday.
#26
Financial stability.
Tempest 6 months ago
This! I hate the saying of “Money doesn’t buy happiness”. No, you can’t buy happiness at the store but having financial security means you don’t have to worry about when you can eat a proper meal or if you can afford a proper mattress to sleep on at night. Money affords you comfort and peace of mind. For those who take all these simple life choices for granted they don’t see them as being a result of their financial backbone. Those who have limitless money don’t recognise these as equating to happiness. I come from a struggling family and I wish I could have more money not to spend on expensive clothes and trips abroad but just so to see my old parents retire from their jobs or for us to be able to afford healthcare when we need it and not have to wait till a disease is too serious or to do some much needed home repairs so we don’t have a leaky roof…
#27
Being able to go to college.
similarly 6 months ago
University in America is now stupidly expensive. I would urge people to rethink university and instead consider trade school. My cousin teaches at a trade school and has mentioned repeatedly that there aren't enough people going into trades to fill the gaps left by people retiring.
#28
Having electricity, then never having it go out.
mysecondaccount27: I remember watching a TV show when I was really young where the power went out at the school and everyone freaked out and got scared. I was so confused as to why they were acting like it was a big deal. That's the day I found out that in first world countries, power going out is a very rare occurence, and usually means something extreme (weather etc). In my country, it's just a regular thing. It's rarer these days (goes out maybe once every one or two weeks) but at the time, it was happening every few days.
Blew my mind.
Magenta Blu 6 months ago
In my town we only have electricity for a couple of hours at nights... No big deal
#30
The privilege of having Wi-Fi so fast it could outrun a cheetah, yet complaining when a webpage takes more than three seconds to load.
What do you think ?
veirdbuttrue 6 months ago
Exactly. I'm amazed that this isn't on the above list. All your civil liberties are gone, your job, your house your life, your food supply, the life of people and the pets you love are under extreme and immediate threat all the time.
Load More Replies...
Crescent 3 6 months ago
BEING ABLE TO TAKE UNPAID INTERNSHIPS - Some of my more well-off college friends were able to take great unpaid internships at major companies and law firms because they didn't have to worry how their rent would get paid or how to put food on the table or how they would afford next semester's tuition. I, on the other hand, had to pass up unpaid opportunities because I needed to make money. So, instead of spending the summer learning more about my chosen field, I spent it delivering pizzas, or working on a moving truck. It gave them a HUGE leg up in the interview process and on their resumes.
veirdbuttrue 6 months ago
Exactly. I'm amazed that this isn't on the above list. All your civil liberties are gone, your job, your house your life, your food supply, the life of people and the pets you love are under extreme and immediate threat all the time.
Load More Replies... Crescent 3 6 months ago
BEING ABLE TO TAKE UNPAID INTERNSHIPS - Some of my more well-off college friends were able to take great unpaid internships at major companies and law firms because they didn't have to worry how their rent would get paid or how to put food on the table or how they would afford next semester's tuition. I, on the other hand, had to pass up unpaid opportunities because I needed to make money. So, instead of spending the summer learning more about my chosen field, I spent it delivering pizzas, or working on a moving truck. It gave them a HUGE leg up in the interview process and on their resumes.
You May Like 30 Rich Kids That Don’t Know How The Real World Actually Works 127 Powerful Mental Health Quotes That Tell It How It Is
Rugilė Žemaitytė
Saimonas Lukošius
Related on Bored Panda
