Anyone cruising the academic blogs these days has likely seen this meme (see here and here,) on class and privilege. Well, of course, having nothing important to say about my life right now, I thought I’d try the exercise. As you can probably tell, the higher your percentage, the more “privilege” you enjoyed growing up.

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.)

Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to college For an hour, but dropped out because he didn’t understand a word of it. No joke.
2. Father finished college
3. Mother went to college
4. Mother finished college
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor Um…which of these professions does not belong here? (hint: my current one!)
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 Given the previous two it should be clear. Not a chance.
10. Had lessons of any kind before you turned 18 Acting, dance, speech. Speech?
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons before you turned 18 see above
12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively. People who dressed and talked like me, sure. People who looked like me (“ethnic”), no.
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 My dad paid my rent and utility costs each month, but nothing towards tuition, books, other living expenses, so I’m not sure what to do with this one.  The monthy “stipend” was because I was going to school, and because I have ovaries (it’s a Chicano/Machismo thing). I’ll boldface it, if only because $500/month would’ve seriously paid for tuition and then some.  Thanks Pops.
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
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
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
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 Yeah, but it only got about three channels. I used it for “white noise” effect.
29. Owned a mutual fund or IRA in high school or college
30. Flew anywhere on a commercial airline before you turned 16
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 I recall one trip to the Natural History museum with my dad. But art galleries? Heck no.
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

18 / 34 =53%

What I gather from other blogs, 53% puts me slightly over the “privilege” bottom line, which means I’m more likely to possess the “skills sets” fundamental for academic success, whatever that means.   But I’m not buying it.  It seems to me, the obvious economic privilege notwithstanding (and I should add that my dad is no longer enjoying the lifestyle of big bucks that marked the Reaganite 80s for many), I sorely lacked other markers of privilege that I would argue are far more in keeping with academic success. I didn’t lead a life of cultural privilege, that’s for sure (amount of books in your childhood home, amount of visits to the museums and art galleries, amount of “lessons” before age 18). Sure, I enjoyed economic privilege all right. I grew up with a housekeeper (we had “the help”); I went on multiple cruises; I did Europe before high-school; I got a brand-spankin’ new car the summer I turned 16; and yes, I even had a gas card (OMG, how fuckin’ L.A. is that?). Yet, when in Europe did I appreciate the great museums, the deep cultural histories? Not really. I was the annoying American teenage girl you might’ve heard snickering behind Michelangelo’s David. (“He’s naked!“) . In Paris, I opted to shop on Champs-Elysees and decidedly skipped the Musee du Louvre (I was 14, a hardcore “Duranie” and, like, so didn’t care about art.). Any regrets now that I make a living teaching and writing about art and culture? Oh dear, you betcha.

Not all is lost in regret, though. A mother now myself, I can at least have a say in what forms of “privilege” dear Bump enjoys. If he were to complete this meme in eighteen years from now, he’d score a bit higher than I did (god willing), but mainly because Mr. Grubs and I do intend to spoil him, but certainly not with gas cards, lavish cruises, and a new car.  No, we’ll spoil him with books (between the two of us we own more than 400 hundred books, and these don’t include Bump’s impressive young collection).  We’ll most certainly take those Sunday strolls to the museums and galleries. And he’ll definitely enjoy some extracurricular activities that work the ken (chess club anyone?) and the bod (little league!).  Mr. Grubs has already made it very clear, too, that Bump will have private tutors if he needs them (Comment-va-tu, cher Bump?), and there will be no shortage of art camps to give mum and dad some much-needed R&R of their own. In other words, he’ll certainly be able to boldface the first eleven items and then some but not on account of any lavish economic privilege that’s for sure.  And that’s what it comes down to: “class” is more than money. It’s all tied up with one’s sense of place, sensibility, and (am I actually going to say it?) “Culture.” Dear Bumpy might not have an IRA (good lord, what a thought) and we’re certainly not bound for private schools, but this kid will know his Whitman, Cubists, and, if Mr. Grubby has any say, the key figures of French surrealism. 

Then again, who am I kidding?  Neither Mr. G nor I have any real power to steer the direction of his ‘tastes.’  We’ll do what we can, but look at him now.  My kid is the one who grunts maniacally, toots with intention, and has this thing for climbing slides (it’s really quite strange, this Sisyphus thing of his).  He’s behind about fifteen-twenty words and displays a general preferance for all things body over mind right now.  (His friend Zach, for instance, can sing and construct sentences, while Bump runs laps around him during Toddler Time).  They say you can tell a lot about what your child will be by watching them closely at this age.  If this is true, then it would appear Bump is heading towards Jockdom (note: Mr. G was a jock but also a poet, so there’s hope yet).  And I guess I’m OK with that too.

So, in thinking about this meme, I have to ask: you know that phenomenon where parents project their own fantasy childhood onto their young’uns?  You think that’s me?  Damn straight. 

53% and doubtful,

Mrs. G