Privilege; A quick demonstration

I came across a video the other day which inspired me to reflect on ideas of social privilege and structural disadvantage. In the video a group of similarly aged men and women in their early 20’s are asked to stand shoulder to shoulder along a line marked on the floor. Shortly after questions about their personal circumstances (both current and historical) are announced and based on each individual’s response to the question they may be asked to take one step forward or one step back. 

Just 1.7% of Australian postcodes and communities account for over seven times their share of the main factors that entrench disadvantage, such as low income, limited access to computers and the Internet, early school leaving, prison admissions and confirmed child maltreatment.

Aust. Institute of Family Studies (2011)

After 35 questions are asked the participants find themselves staggered at different points relative to the starting line. Their relative placement providing an insight into their relative disadvantage.

I’d recommend you watch the video (http://goo.gl/ydYjzg) or if you’re pressed for time, the diagram gives you a visual description to compliment my description above.  Of course, at the end people are surprised by where they end up situated relative to those around them and provide some brief post activity comments as part of the video presentation.

If in your working or volunteer life you lead training, I can see how this activity might be a great way to demonstrate privilege and or disadvantage. It’s certainly not predictive as each individual experiences the events identified in the questions uniquely, but it gives a general idea how many factors which are not usually considered contribute to the relative advantage or disadvantage a person experiences.
The questions the video makers used are a little USA centric, but very interesting nonetheless. It made me wonder how this exercise might look if we had reliable comparative data which would enable each question to be were weighted (e.g. some questions moved a person two steps or more based on the impact of the issue) and if participants were asked more personal questions (e.g. whether or not they had experienced sexual assault). Certainly if informed with more reliable variables the exercise could be even more revealing, although I can imagine there are quite a few reasons one might not use it as a group training exercise.
With my interest piqued I undertook some research and came across a range of reliable Australian sources which discussed personal, structural and community disadvantage. One of the better definitions was published on the Australian Institute of Family Studies.

Community disadvantage comes about as a result of the complex interplay between the characteristics of residents living in a community (e.g., unemployment, low income) and the effects of the social and environmental context within the community (e.g., weak social networks, relative lack of opportunities).
http://www.aifs.gov.au

I took some time to consider some questions which might make the exercise more relevant in Australia, and put in some estimated weightings. My list of 90 questions follows. Whilst I did work through the findings of a few academic papers to inform my own decision making, it is certainly a list which is subject to my own personal bias and guesstimates. Please feel free to comment on my additions, weightings and omissions and improve the list of questions. 

Sample privilege disadvantage questions.pdf
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Whilst I understand that I’m singing to the choir considering those who usually read my blog, it amazes me how often influential people in politics, public life and the media have not developed any understanding of privilege or disadvantage. Ultimately, this exercise doesn’t have to be scientific. The debrief following the activity is where there is great opportunity for learning and reflection.