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Privilege for Sale

Through this activity, you will explore privilege and, in particular, examine the limited

privileges afforded to certain groups such as the LGBTQ community.

Instructions: What follows is a list of privileges that LGBTQ people often cannot

access. For the purposes of this activity, imagine that you, too, do not have any of the

following privileges. You need to buy them back. Each privilege costs $100, and you

have just $400 to spend. Take 5 minutes to select the ones you will purchase.

1. Celebrating your marriage(s) with your family, friends, and coworkers.

2. Paid leave from your job when grieving the death of your partner(s).

3. Inheriting from your partner(s)/lover(s)/companion(s) automatically after their death.

4. Having multiple positive TV role models.

5. Sharing health insurance with your partner(s).

6. Being able to find role models of the same sexual orientation.

7. Being able to see your partner(s) immediately if in an accident or emergency.

8. Being able to be promoted in your job without your sexuality playing a factor.

9. Adopting your children.

10. Filing joint tax returns.

11. Able to obtain child custody.

12. Being able to complete forms and paperwork with the information you feel most accurately communicates who you are.

13. Being able to feel safe in your interactions with police officers.

14. Being able to travel, or show ID in restaurants or bars, without fear you’ll be rejected.

15. Kissing/hugging/being affectionate in public without threat or punishment.

16. Being able to discuss and have access to multiple family planning options.

17. Not questioning normalcy both sexually and culturally.

18. Reading books or seeing movies about a relationship you wish you could have.

19. Receiving discounted homeowner insurance rates with your recognized partner(s).

20. Raising children without worrying about state intervention.

21. Having others comfort and support you when a relationship ends.

22. Being a foster parent.

23. Using public restrooms without fear of threat or punishment.

24. Being employed as a preschool or elementary school teacher without people assuming you will “corrupt” the children.

25. Dating the person you desired in your teens.

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26. Raising children without worrying about people rejecting your children because of your sexuality.

27. Living openly with your partner(s).

28. Receiving validation from your religious community.

29. Being accepted by your neighbors, colleagues, and new friends.

30. Being able to go to a doctor and getting treatment that doesn’t conflict with your identity.

31. Being able to access social services without fear of discrimination, or being turned away.

32. Sponsoring your partner(s) for citizenship.

33. Being open and having your partner(s) accepted by your family. Processing and Reflection After deciding on the privileges, reflect on the following questions. Then, bring your thoughts to the Week 6 Discussion.

• How did this activity make you feel?

• How did you go about selecting privileges?

• What on the list surprised you?

• What types of privileges seem to be the most important to you (social, financial, legal), and why?

• How might this understanding of privilege help in your social work practice with LGBTQ clients?

Credit line: The Safe Zone Project. (2019, April). Privilege for sale. https://thesafezoneproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Privilege-for-Sale.pdf