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Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Class and privilege meme

I found this at Katie Allison Granju’s blog. It’s originally from What Privileges Do You Have?, based on an exercise about class and privilege developed by Will Barratt, Meagan Cahill, Angie Carlen, Minnette Huck, Drew Lurker, Stacy Ploskonka at Illinois State University. If you participate in this blog game, they ask that you PLEASE acknowledge their copyright.

Very interesting food for thought… those that apply to me are bolded, my comments italicized.

1. Father went to college
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college My mom claims to have gone to college, but it was a one-year secretary trade course. That doesn’t count in “my” world.
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor Two uncles and several cousins in Mexico are physicians.
6. Were the same or higher class than your high school teachers.
7. Had more than 50 books in your childhood home.
8. Had more than 500 books in your childhood home.
9. Were read children's books by a parent.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 One year each of ballet, tap & jazz dance.
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively.
13. Had a credit card with your name on it before you turned 18.
14. Your parents (or a trust) paid for the majority of your college costs. I paid (and am still paying) for my college education.
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels I can only remember two trips that involved hotels. All the rest of our very few vacations were spent sleeping on someone else’s floor.
20. Your clothing was all bought new before you turned 18
21. Your parents bought you a car that was not a hand-me-down from them. Does it really count if it didn’t run and took two years of weekend sweat to get running?
22. There was original art in your house when you were a child.
23. You and your family lived in a single-family house
24. Your parent(s) owned their own house or apartment before you left home
25. You had your own room as a child
Only because my siblings all moved out when I was 5.
26. You had a phone in your room before you turned 18.
27. Participated in a SAT/ACT prep course.
28. Had your own TV in your room in high school.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college.
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16 My first flight was at age 7 to visit my brother at college. My second flight was at 15 when I went by myself to visit my mom’s friends in Mexico City.
31. Went on a cruise with your family.
32. Went on more than one cruise with your family.
33. Your parents took you to museums and art galleries as you grew up. Hmmmm. I experienced museums on school field trips and while visiting Mexico City. My parents never took me themselves.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family. I was quite aware. My dad was always being laid off from his job and we didn’t have central heat. I was told to bundle up and not use the space heaters.

I'm not tagging anyone, but if you decide to do this meme, please let me know!