Privilege Exercise Reflection

Privilege Checklists

Please revise these if you would like to tailor them to your event.

Sexuality Privilege

1. I have formalized or could formalize my love relationship

legally through marriage. N/A

2. I can move about in public without fear of being harassed or

physically attacked because of my sexual identity. T

3. I do not have to fear negative consequences if my coworkers

find out about my sexual identity. T

4. If I want to, I can easily find a religious community that welcomes persons of my sexual identity. F

5. No one questions the “normality” of my sexuality. T

6. People don't ask me why I “chose” my sexual identity. N/A

7. I easily can find sex education literature about my sexual identity. T

Ability Privilege

1. I can assume that I will easily have physical access to any building. F

2. I have never been taunted, teased, or ostracized due to a disability. N/A

3. I can do well in a challenging situation without being told I am an inspiration because of my ability status. N

4. I can go shopping alone and expect to find appropriate accommodations to make the experience hassle‐free. N

5. I do not have to request accommodations due to my ability status. N

6. If I am not hired for a job, I do not question if it was due to my physical or mental ability. N

7. Other people do not think that my mental ability is limited because of my physical ability. N

Gender/Sex Privilege

1. If I have children and a successful career, few people will ask me how I balance work and home. T

2. I do not have to think about the message my wardrobe sends about my sexual availability. T

3. I never worry about being recognized as the sex/gender with which I identify. F

4. A decision to hire me will never be based on assumptions about whether or not I might plan to have a family soon. T

5. I am less likely to be sexually harassed at work than persons of other gender identities. T

6. In general, I am not under much pressure to be thin or to worry about how people will respond to me if I’m overweight. F

7. Major religions in the world are led mainly by people of my sex. N/A

Race Privilege

1. Mainstream media routinely depict people of my race in a wide range of roles. T

2. Children in my racial group do not need to be educated about systemic racism for their daily physical safety. T

3. I can be sure that if I need legal or medical help, my race will not work against me. F

4. I can take a job without people thinking I was hired only because of my race. T

5. I can do well in a challenging situation without being called a credit to my race. T

6. I am never asked to speak for all the people of my racial group. F

7. I can go shopping without concern that store employees will monitor me because of my race. N/A

Religious Privilege

1. I can assume that I will not have to work or go to school on my religious holidays. T

2. I can be sure that mainstream media will celebrate the holidays of my religion. T

3. My religious views are reflected by the majority of government officials and political candidates. F

4. Food that honors my religious practices can be easily found in any restaurant or grocery store. T

5. Places to worship or practice my religion are numerous in my community. T

6. Most people do not consider my religious practices to be weird.” T

7. I do not need to worry about negative consequences of disclosing my religious identity to others. T

Class Privilege

1. I can be sure that my social class will be an advantage when I seek medical or legal help. T

2. I am fairly certain that I will not have to skip meals because I cannot afford to eat. F

3. I have a savings account with at least a month’s expenses in case of emergency. F

4. In case of a medical emergency, I won’t have to decide against visiting a doctor or a hospital due to economic reasons. T

5. I don’t HAVE TO rely on public transportation; I can afford my own vehicle. T

6. My neighborhood is relatively free of obvious drug use, prostitution, and violent crime. T

7. Most experts appearing in mass media seem to be from my social class. F

Nationality/Citizenship Privilege (U.S.)

1.If I apply for a job, my legal right to work in this country probably will not be questioned. T

2. I will never be denied housing in the U.S. due to my citizenship. T

3. I can go into any bank and set up a checking account without fear of discrimination. F

4. I can be reasonably sure that if I need legal or medical assistance, my citizenship status will not matter. T

5. I do not fear that my employer will threaten me with deportation. T

6. If I wanted to, I could travel freely to almost any country and be admitted back into the U.S. F

7. If I were a victim of a crime, I wouldn’t think twice about seeking police assistance due to my citizenship status. F