Happy New Year…

by | Jan 1, 2008

Lots going on with my new dungeon – lots has been achieved – but still lots to do… thanks to my fabulous team – now called by

anyway – I’ll write a proper entry soon – but this entry by mordwen caught my eye – so I thought I’d post here as food for thought…

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. I’ve amended slightly for an Australian audience. If you are in the US, use badgerbag’s original list.

Bold the true statements.

1. Father went to university
2. Father finished university
3. Mother went to university
4. Mother finished university
5. Have any relative who is an attorney, physician, or professor

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 (I see your 500 and raise you 5000)
9. Were read children’s books by a parent
10. Had lessons (outside of school) of any kind before you turned 18
11. Had more than two kinds of lessons (outside of school) before you turned 18

12. The people in the media who dress and talk like me are portrayed positively
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 university costs (costs after scholarships)
15. Your parents (or a trust) paid for all of your college costs
16. Went to a private high school (father, mother and grandparents went to private high schools too!)
17. Went to summer camp
18. Had a private tutor before you turned 18
19. Family vacations involved staying at hotels (we rarely took holidays – but there were a few)

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 (until I was 14 or so – then we moved to an apartment in Double Bay)
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 any higher level Year 11 or Year 12 course with a view to entering University
28. Had your own TV in your room in High School
29. Owned a mutual fund or superannuation fund 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
34. You were unaware of how much heating bills were for your family

It’s a very interesting list… I would really like to see a more australian specific list as I don’t think heating for example applies so much here…