We take the privileges we have for granted. If I tell my girls, no we are not going out to eat again, or no I am not buying this or that right now, I get " are we poor" I have to explain, no I am trying to budget. I have had the talk with them as well, no we are not poor, but we are not rich, we are somewhere in between. It is really all about perspective. Some of my own family back home would think that we are rich, but some of your friends at school who travel abroad for breaks etc, may think we are poor.
Regardless of finances, I just want to write this open letter to my girls about privilege.
Recently - I applied for a job and was concerned if I would even get it because I did not meet the Diverse criteria that they were looking for. I had been working for the company for 3 years and had experience with the computer system, and knew the ropes and I finished up my advanced degree and just wanted a promotion, but if someone out there who was more diverse than me with less experience applied they could potentially oust me out of the running for the job. This concerned me and then I realized this is only going to get worse, my poor children. .....
Girls,
I am sorry I raised you so that you don't have to worry about food, shelter, or basic needs, because if any of those were threatened you might appreciate more of the basic things in life.
I am sorry you are caucasian and from a middle income family because you will be set aside for jobs because you are not more ethnic and diverse.
You are women and you are beautiful and this my friend will cause people to judge your ability, your sincerity and even your intellect. But you come from a long line of smart, strong beautiful women, you can handle it.
I cannot apologize because you were raised with Christian values and go to a Christian church. But you will be ridiculed and picked on for any of this and later accused of being closed minded if you ever tell anyone, but be aware. Even if you are open minded, the very words Christian causes others to judge you. You could even be shunned, picked over for jobs and talked about even amongst your peers for this one. Stand strong in your faith, be proud, because at the end of the day, God will be the one holding your hand and giving you peace and rest to sleep and begin again.
Bottom line is that you are privileged, no you do not feel privileged because you cannot have everything you want, we don't get to do long vacations and cruises every year, and travel abroad each summer. You want to do extracurricular activities that I cannot always afford, and you have to do chores around the house, and help out at church on Sundays because your dad is the pastor and always be prepared at any second to accept someone in your home, your private space, because that is what pastors' families do. No, you may not feel privileged, but you are.
Though you may suffer some because you are a Christian and because we are not rich according to our immediate World's standards but we are rich according to most of the world's standards as a whole, I cannot begin to explain it, but as you live and travel you will see just how fortunate you are.
We are privileged, you are privileged and you have the amazing opportunity to know Jesus Christ, to be around his people and to know the comfort of having two parents that love you dearly.
As you start to experience the world and see that you are truly the minority don't shrink back and feel less, don't hide your light because you are not diverse enough or liberal enough.... be the person we are raising you to be .. beautiful, loving, real, strong, and Christ like... because in the end the things that matter will still be the things that are important, all the rest is just part of life in a privileged, self-seeking, society. So be strong, stand strong and be proud of who you are.
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