SOCI 324 8,9,10-2 Privilege Assignment

Introduction To SOCI 324 8,9,10-2 Privilege Assignment

This SOCI 324 8,9,10-2 Privilege Assignment assignment involves reflecting on privilege by completing a specific privilege checklist. By doing so, students will explore their privileges and understand how these privileges affect their interactions and societal perceptions. This Owlisdom guide of SOCI 324 8,9,10-2 Privilege Assignment provides step-by-step instructions to help you critically analyze your experiences and apply this understanding to your professional practice, particularly in healthcare.

Go to the page in this module that lists various privilege checklists. Select a checklist of which you have the privilege.  The checklists are located on the right-hand side.  Please select from the following: Able-Bodied, Christian, Cisgender, Heterosexual, Male, Middle-Upper Class, Pandemic, Sexual, Social Class, Thin or White.  As indicated above, please select a category in which you likely have the privilege.  For example, if you identify as able-bodied, this would be a good checklist to complete, or if you identify as White, this would be a good checklist to complete.  If you identify as Female, please do not take the Male checklist (if you want to learn more, please feel free to complete more checklists on your own).

Selecting And Completing The Checklist

This section of SOCI 324 8,9,10-1 Video Assignment 3 will discuss selecting and completing the checklist.

1. Select a privilege checklist that aligns with an aspect of your identity where you likely have privilege, such as Able-Bodied, Christian, Cisgender, Heterosexual, Male, Middle-Upper Class, Pandemic, Sexual, Social Class, Thin, or White.
2. Carefully go through each item on the checklist, reflecting on how it relates to your personal experiences.
3. Take time to honestly consider how your identity influences your daily interactions, opportunities, and societal perceptions.

Example

In this reflection, I chose to complete the “White” privilege checklist. This decision was driven by my recognition of the systemic advantages associated with racial identity. The checklist, which can be found on the module’s page, is designed to help individuals assess their privilege across various social contexts. I meticulously reviewed each item on the checklist, considering how my experiences align with the described privileges. This process involved honest self-reflection about how my racial identity influences my interactions, opportunities, and societal perceptions.

Discuss your initial reactions to completing the checklist. 

Initial Reactions To Completing The Checklist

This section of SOCI 324 8,9,10-1 Video Assignment 3 will discuss initial reactions to completing the checklist.

1. Write down your initial thoughts and feelings as you complete the checklist. Note any moments of surprise, discomfort, or awareness.
2. Provide specific examples from the checklist that stood out to you and explain why they were significant.

Example

As I worked through the White privilege checklist, my initial reactions were a mixture of awareness, surprise, and discomfort. I found myself confronted with a stark realization of how many advantages I take for granted. For instance, the ease with which I navigate public spaces without fear or the lack of need to be cautious about my appearance in professional settings were highlighted as privileges. This realization brought about a heightened sense of self-awareness and reflection on the systemic nature of racial advantages. The process was both enlightening and emotionally challenging, as it required me to confront the disparities between my lived experiences and those of individuals from different racial backgrounds.

What did you sense while taking the privilege checklist (name sensations that arose within your body)?  

Sensations During The Checklist

This section of SOCI 324 8,9,10-1 Video Assignment 3 will discuss sensations during the checklist.

1. Pay attention to any physical sensations you experience during exercise, such as tightness in the chest, irregular breathing, or a knot in the stomach.
2. Reflect on how these physical sensations correlate with your emotional responses, highlighting the internal conflict and discomfort associated with recognizing unearned advantages.

Example

As I completed the privilege checklist, several physical sensations mirrored my emotional response to the exercise. I felt a tightness in my chest, which intensified as I confronted the numerous advantages associated with being White. This discomfort was accompanied by a knot in my stomach, reflecting the unease of recognizing unearned benefits. My breathing became irregular, a physical manifestation of the psychological struggle involved in understanding privilege. These sensations highlighted the emotional burden of acknowledging how privilege shapes my interactions and societal position. They underscored the internal conflict between recognizing my advantages and understanding their impact on others, emphasizing the deep, often uncomfortable, awareness that accompanies such reflections.

What did you learn about privilege from this activity?

Insights Gained About Privilege

This section of SOCI 324 8,9,10-1 Video Assignment 3 will discuss insights gained about privilege.

1. Discuss the systemic nature of privilege, emphasizing how it shapes opportunities and experiences beyond personal benefits.
2. Reflect on how privilege creates invisible barriers for those without it, perpetuating inequality and reinforcing societal hierarchies.
3. Consider how recognizing privilege can foster empathy and drive efforts towards more equitable practices in both personal and professional contexts.

Example

Completing the privilege checklist provided profound insights into the nature and impact of privilege. I realized that privilege is not merely a personal benefit but a systemic advantage that shapes opportunities and experiences. This exercise revealed how unearned benefits, such as those associated with being White, influence social dynamics and access to resources. I learned that privilege could create invisible barriers for those without it, perpetuating inequality and reinforcing societal hierarchies. Recognizing this can foster empathy and drive efforts towards more equitable practices, both personally and professionally, particularly in fields like healthcare, where awareness of privilege can significantly impact patient care and interactions.

How can this information benefit you as a healthcare provider?

Application Of Privilege Awareness In Healthcare

1. Explain how awareness of privilege can enhance empathy and cultural humility in healthcare settings.
2. Discuss how recognizing privilege helps healthcare providers understand the barriers faced by patients from diverse backgrounds.
3. Highlight the importance of offering personalized and equitable care by acknowledging the unique challenges patients may face due to their race or socioeconomic status.
4. Reflect on how this awareness can drive the implementation of policies and practices aimed at reducing health disparities and improving patient outcomes.

Example

Awareness of privilege is crucial in healthcare settings, where it can profoundly affect patient interactions and care outcomes. Recognizing one’s privilege—such as being from a higher social class or having a different racial identity—can enhance a healthcare provider’s ability to empathize with patients from diverse backgrounds. This awareness helps in understanding the barriers that patients may face, such as limited access to resources or systemic biases. It encourages healthcare professionals to practice cultural humility and approach each patient with sensitivity and respect for their unique experiences. For instance, acknowledging that some patients might face discrimination or inequitable treatment due to their race or socioeconomic status allows providers to offer more personalized and equitable care. Moreover, it drives the implementation of policies and practices that aim to reduce health disparities and improve outcomes for all patients, fostering a more inclusive and supportive healthcare environment.

CLOSING

Engaging with this SOCI 324 8,9,10-2 Privilege Assignment deepens your understanding of privilege and its pervasive impact on both personal experiences and systemic structures. By critically reflecting on your own privileges, you can develop greater empathy and cultural sensitivity, essential qualities for providing compassionate and equitable care in healthcare settings. This SOCI 324 8,9,10-2 Privilege Assignment exercise underscores the importance of continuous self-awareness and education in fostering a more inclusive and supportive professional environment. In the next module of SOCI 324, we will explore the 8,9,10-3 stereotypes, perspectives, and privilege discussion.