By: Mattie Tierney

Mattie Tierney — Sun, 27 Aug 2017 11:36:44 +0000

I’m not sure that speaking of ‘white privilege’ is especially helpful. I get the point that it’s better to let people speak for themselves, but these ideas of universal privilege based on various criteria are unnecessarily divisive and this form of identity politics gets ludicrous quite quickly. Those not suffering from racism are not ‘privileged’ to be so; that should be what we all enjoy. Civilians are not ‘privileged’ to be less marginalised and belittled than sex workers, that should be what everyone enjoys. I’m a biracial, bisexual sex worker working as an independent escort so I have first-hand experience of discrimination. However, I don’t view those not being discriminated against as privileged. I view a duke’s daughter or the son of a Russian oligarch as privileged. I don’t count not being disabled, mentally ill, overweight, ugly, or of low intelligence as a form of privilege. It’s an advantage to be able bodied, mentally healthy, slim, perceived as attractive and of higher intelligence, not a privilege. Those aren’t forms of ‘privilege’ which I feel I need to excuse myself for nor does it make my argument weaker or stronger to be advantaged in some ways and disadvantaged in others.

Comments on: Activist Spotlight: Alex Andrews on SWOP Behind Bars And Service Work

By: Mattie Tierney