Privilege

Privilege is one of those words in the lexicon of the human race that holds much weight and much misconception towards not only it's true definition but also of the ramifications of its existence in the first place. It's a very deceptive word that is generally clouded by the ignorance and perceptions of those who even first think to define some action, some possession or some person with it. The word can be slung as a deep seated insult, used in anger when the individual feels that they are more deserving than what they collar with the declaration. And usually privilege is treated as such, even though it, like most words, is quite neutral and harmless in of itself. Privilege is neither good nor bad, selfish or selfless; only the individuals who use the word can define it in a moral direction.

When most individuals think of the term "privilege" they almost will always picture someone who is higher up on the socioeconomic food chain as themselves. They may think of a public leader, of a politician, of a celebrity or even of royalty. Yes, you do get those who are considered "privileged" identifying themselves as such, but they are only partially correct and are continuing the ingraining of a dangerous stereotype. A person is "privileged" if they have something intrinsically by just being who they are that individuals other than themselves lack. An average person is "privileged" because they are inherently more intelligent than someone born with a mental deformity or deficiency that prevents them from reaching a level of development that an adult should possesses. An average person is "privileged" if they are born with a healthy, fully functioning immune system, giving them better odds at just simply living compared to someone born without a properly functioning body. Things that a healthy, normal person takes for granted every second is a "privilege" when compared to those who lost the genetic lottery.

But it can be deeper than that, farther than something as simple as health. A first world citizen is extremely "privileged" compared to someone from the third world. Such a person has running water at their beck and call or they could simply go to a public facility or even a store to buy water; they will never know what it is to die of thirst save in extreme situations. Food is readily available and is never in short supply, there are even facilities and programs that provide meals for those who can not provide for themselves. Diseases that ravage and kill thousands are forgotten in history texts, never blighting any save the truly unlucky. War is a far off talking point, crime a cautionary tale (depending on the area and person of course), and the physically palpable abuse of authority something that is unheard of. The problems of the first world are truly crocodile tears in the grander scheme of things, but you will rarely hear the average person to define this as "privilege".