Addressing Inequality and Privilege: A Closer Look at Equal Treatment vs. Equal Outcomes

The discussion around privilege often sparks controversy, with many misconceptions about what it intends to achieve. At its core, discussing privilege is not about creating an unequal society but about understanding the

What is Privilege?

Let’s start with a commonly discussed form of privilege: White privilege. White privilege does not mean that someone is inherently better or more privileged than others. Rather, it highlights the systemic advantages that white individuals often have due to the color of their skin. To clarify, white privilege is more about the absence of issues, rather than the presence of advantages.

White Privilege

Police stops: White people are stopped by the police not because of their race. Poverty: White people can still be poor, but not because of their race. Racial profiling: White people can still be followed in stores, not because of their race. Bank loans: White people can still be refused bank loans, not because of their race. Housing: White people can still be refused rental homes, not because of their race.

The key point is that white people do not have to worry about the color of their skin impacting their daily lives. This is a fundamental difference.

Understanding Equality and Privilege

It is important to distinguish between the concepts of equality and privilege. While everyone is supposed to be TREATED equally, this is not the same as being BEING equal. People are different in many ways, including intelligence, strength, and entrepreneurial skills. Success and opportunities should be based on fairness and merit, not on demographic factors.

Furthermore, equality in society should not be misinterpreted as equality of results. We should strive for equal treatment and equal opportunities, ensuring that everyone has a fair shot to succeed. However, achieving equality of results is a different matter.

The Myth of Being Equal

While everyone is not equal in terms of physical attributes or innate qualities, the focus should be on treating people fairly. For example, it is fair to hire a person because of their skills, not just because of their race. The aim should always be to hire the best candidate for the job, not to meet diversity quotas.

Privilege vs. Inequality

The question often asked is, if everyone should be treated equally, why there is so much talk about privilege that attempts to make everyone unequal. This misunderstanding arises from a lack of understanding of the systemic nature of privilege. Privilege is about recognizing and addressing the ways in which certain groups benefit from systemic inequalities.

Reading “Animal Farm” can help illustrate this point. The farm animals, theoretically equal in their struggle against the pigs, find themselves in a society where some are treated unfairly. Similarly, in real life, some people have the power to place themselves above others or push others down, which is the essence of privilege.

Discussing privilege is not about making everyone unequal, but about acknowledging the inequalities that exist in our society. We must work towards creating a more just society, where people are judged based on their actions and abilities rather than their demographics.