Understanding Privilege & Entitlement

Some of the pedantic readers here will probably know what the word means and wonder why it isn't obvious to anyone who is a fluent user of the English language. But the truth is, most people don't see any difference between the two. Perhaps because the word 'entitled' is also closely related to 'privileged'. It is yet another case of lost meaning thanks to the unchecked misuse of words in the increasingly toxic social media space. I actually got the idea for this post from a very close friend who shared her disdain for the entitled during this pandemic crisis. I share her sentiment but it made me question the actual meaning of the word itself and I too was faced with the same linguistic smack as I saw the flaw in my wordy ways.

It is no surprise that modern English, like any widely spoken language, is extremely confusing once you get into the details. I have come across the phrase "sense of entitlement" to describe someone who has unreasonable demands based on their advantageous position. Funnily, the word 'entitlement' is not exclusively synonymous with 'entitled'. Using the Merriam-Webster online dictionary, let's look at the differences. 'Entitlement' is a noun that refers to a right to benefits specified by contract or law, or a government program providing benefits to members of a specified group. For example, your contract with your employer states certain benefits and compensation in exchange for your services and your employer has to uphold their end of the agreement and that is your entitlement. Entitlement ALSO means the state or condition of being "entitled" which is an adjective meaning having a right to certain privileges. That's the key word to remember now - privileges. A privilege is defined as a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage or favor often in reference to a position or an office.

While the use of the phrase "sense of entitlement" is correct, it seems to distract from the key matter which is best described by the word 'privilege' or even 'entitled' and I'd urge you to try using these words instead.

The problem of privilege itself is a tricky one. As a general rule, I expect life to be unfair but never still. Some privileges stem from nature while some are embedded in socioeconomic circumstance and both feel outdated. Yet they are not. For all our talk and technology, humans as a collective cannot let go of our destructive instincts. The very instincts that got us to the top of the food chain many millennia ago. Competitiveness, winning at all costs, protecting one's prized possession or position, greed and fear of losing guide many of our choices even today. Morals are often the fallback of those of us who don't make it to the top. To justify why we didn't succeed while another did. There will always be more losers than winners and the bigger that divide, the sense of morals grows as well.

Today, it is said that 1 per cent of the world's population has some form of ownership over 99 per cent of key resources. Such a skewed balance is the work of many lifetimes and each generation of winners finding new ways to try and stay ahead of the rest. The title of "winner" is fickle and so the fear of losing it to another is quite real. Even when the losers use their large numbers to defeat the tyranny of a winner, there begins an internal struggle to identify a new winner. Even if the process is somewhat democratic and not privileged, votes are cast in the hope of future favors. Everyone has different priorities so everyone is promised different favors. The ones that do get their promised favors then wear the badge of privilege. Heck, we even have marketing models wherein brands offer us "privileges" for a little extra money or frequent business. Most of us like the sense of feeling a little special, of getting a better deal than the next person and in the case of limited supply, getting it before someone else does. But when it comes to privilege based on race, caste, religion, gender or whatever reason that split people into groups, the matter is no longer in the hands of an individual.

Should one feel guilty for their privilege if they didn't participate in the actions that gave them that position? Not necessarily. But I feel that acknowledging your inherent privilege is a key aspect of empathizing with those less fortunate. If you believe in fairness and a modicum of equality, then it is on each individual to strive for it in their daily lives. You won't always find others to agree with your sentiments but you might as well try within your capabilities to bring about the change you desire. There will always be differences and circumstances which bestow privileges upon the lucky ones. But it is important to remember that nothing is constant and your bubble of privileges can pop any day and that is why humility is so important. Keep tabs on people of varied cultures and economic backgrounds, be aware of your surroundings, act with consideration and stay wary of any radical ideology - both good and bad. You might have the privileges of a Karen but you don't need to act like one.