Employing Privilege to Combat Privilege | Rita Al Khayat | TEDxPhoeniciaU

my name is Rita Hyatt and I am

my name is Rita Hyatt and I am privileged and because I’m privileged I

privileged and because I’m privileged I

privileged and because I’m privileged I get to stand here today and talk to you

get to stand here today and talk to you

get to stand here today and talk to you when I first started writing my script

when I first started writing my script

when I first started writing my script for this very talk my managers advised

for this very talk my managers advised

for this very talk my managers advised me to stay away from politics

me to stay away from politics

me to stay away from politics nonetheless what I had to say is that

nonetheless what I had to say is that

nonetheless what I had to say is that staying away from politics is a

staying away from politics is a

staying away from politics is a privilege by itself now I do hope

privilege by itself now I do hope

privilege by itself now I do hope everybody here knows that when people

everybody here knows that when people

everybody here knows that when people like myself are addressing privilege it

like myself are addressing privilege it

like myself are addressing privilege it is not a debate

is not a debate

is not a debate it is rather something complex and

it is rather something complex and

it is rather something complex and essential you see it connects all our

essential you see it connects all our

essential you see it connects all our lives and all the factors around our

lives and all the factors around our

lives and all the factors around our lives that shape them sing away from

lives that shape them sing away from

lives that shape them sing away from politics or not getting political is a

politics or not getting political is a

politics or not getting political is a privilege that women cannot afford not

privilege that women cannot afford not

privilege that women cannot afford not only women but persons of color and all

only women but persons of color and all

only women but persons of color and all minorities religious minorities racial

minorities religious minorities racial

minorities religious minorities racial ethnic sexual minorities because not

ethnic sexual minorities because not

ethnic sexual minorities because not being a minority is a privilege as a

being a minority is a privilege as a

being a minority is a privilege as a young woman I am most familiar with the

young woman I am most familiar with the

young woman I am most familiar with the notion of gender privilege or the lack

notion of gender privilege or the lack

notion of gender privilege or the lack of a notion to be more accurate our

of a notion to be more accurate our

of a notion to be more accurate our lives as women are shaped by misogyny

lives as women are shaped by misogyny

lives as women are shaped by misogyny and by sexism from the moment that we

and by sexism from the moment that we

and by sexism from the moment that we are born as a little girl I had to

are born as a little girl I had to

are born as a little girl I had to choose my hobbies and interests based on

choose my hobbies and interests based on

choose my hobbies and interests based on what is deemed appropriate as a

what is deemed appropriate as a

what is deemed appropriate as a university student I have to fight in

university student I have to fight in

university student I have to fight in the major I want to study because it’s

the major I want to study because it’s

the major I want to study because it’s not deemed as the most suitable for

not deemed as the most suitable for

not deemed as the most suitable for women I am expected to get married and

women I am expected to get married and

women I am expected to get married and have children but studying law to later

have children but studying law to later

have children but studying law to later become a human rights activist or a

become a human rights activist or a

become a human rights activist or a lawyer or a judge might get in the way

lawyer or a judge might get in the way

lawyer or a judge might get in the way of that and you see my male friends

of that and you see my male friends

of that and you see my male friends don’t have to suffer these problems nor

don’t have to suffer these problems nor

don’t have to suffer these problems nor will they have to suffer what it means

will they have to suffer what it means

will they have to suffer what it means to be paid less than their equally

to be paid less than their equally

to be paid less than their equally capable and equally qualified colleagues

capable and equally qualified colleagues

capable and equally qualified colleagues simply because they were born with this

simply because they were born with this

simply because they were born with this gender privilege they were born

gender privilege they were born

gender privilege they were born with a privilege of being males the

with a privilege of being males the

with a privilege of being males the privilege should not be a privilege

privilege should not be a privilege

privilege should not be a privilege gender privilege is when you are safe

gender privilege is when you are safe

gender privilege is when you are safe when you go to the police and you are

when you go to the police and you are

when you go to the police and you are safe when you seek justice because the

safe when you seek justice because the

safe when you seek justice because the law itself does not discriminate against

law itself does not discriminate against

law itself does not discriminate against you it’s when man can go to the store

you it’s when man can go to the store

you it’s when man can go to the store buy the razors to shave without any

buy the razors to shave without any

buy the razors to shave without any added taxation but the same cannot be

added taxation but the same cannot be

added taxation but the same cannot be said for women who need to buy their

said for women who need to buy their

said for women who need to buy their monthly menstrual products because

monthly menstrual products because

monthly menstrual products because apparently getting your period is

apparently getting your period is

apparently getting your period is considered a luxury that requires added

considered a luxury that requires added

considered a luxury that requires added taxation gender privilege is when you’re

taxation gender privilege is when you’re

taxation gender privilege is when you’re not scared of getting hurt if you decide

not scared of getting hurt if you decide

not scared of getting hurt if you decide to sell your day that you’d rather head

to sell your day that you’d rather head

to sell your day that you’d rather head home instead of going somewhere more

home instead of going somewhere more

home instead of going somewhere more private it’s when rapists are marrying

private it’s when rapists are marrying

private it’s when rapists are marrying their victims not held accountable for

their victims not held accountable for

their victims not held accountable for their crimes

their crimes

their crimes privilege is when the person of minority

privilege is when the person of minority

privilege is when the person of minority in the workplace has to work double and

in the workplace has to work double and

in the workplace has to work double and triple as hard as everyone else to get

triple as hard as everyone else to get

triple as hard as everyone else to get appreciated and acknowledged privilege

appreciated and acknowledged privilege

appreciated and acknowledged privilege is one persons of color ethnic

is one persons of color ethnic

is one persons of color ethnic minorities facing racism and prejudice

minorities facing racism and prejudice

minorities facing racism and prejudice and hate on a daily basis privilege is

and hate on a daily basis privilege is

and hate on a daily basis privilege is decades of so-called science that is

decades of so-called science that is

decades of so-called science that is devoted to proving your intellectual

devoted to proving your intellectual

devoted to proving your intellectual superiority at the expense of those with

superiority at the expense of those with

superiority at the expense of those with darker skin color being privileged means

darker skin color being privileged means

darker skin color being privileged means not having to read about the slavery of

not having to read about the slavery of

not having to read about the slavery of your ancestors not having to listen to

your ancestors not having to listen to

your ancestors not having to listen to and feel pain for the robbery of your

and feel pain for the robbery of your

and feel pain for the robbery of your grandparents not seeing your parents

grandparents not seeing your parents

grandparents not seeing your parents falsely accused and imprisoned and being

falsely accused and imprisoned and being

falsely accused and imprisoned and being privileged

privileged

privileged means not witnessing your brothers and

means not witnessing your brothers and

means not witnessing your brothers and sisters being shot unarmed being

sisters being shot unarmed being

sisters being shot unarmed being privileged is when you when you’ve never

privileged is when you when you’ve never

privileged is when you when you’ve never heard of the story of the three boys of

heard of the story of the three boys of

heard of the story of the three boys of color getting purposefully hit by truck

color getting purposefully hit by truck

color getting purposefully hit by truck and then fined for not wearing

and then fined for not wearing

and then fined for not wearing reflective clothing while the driver

reflective clothing while the driver

reflective clothing while the driver that hit them walks free it’s when you

that hit them walks free it’s when you

that hit them walks free it’s when you don’t have to worry about anybody trying

don’t have to worry about anybody trying

don’t have to worry about anybody trying to deprive you of your right to vote or

to deprive you of your right to vote or

to deprive you of your right to vote or if your right to get married and it’s

if your right to get married and it’s

if your right to get married and it’s when your political preferences

when your political preferences

when your political preferences normal preferences but their political

normal preferences but their political

normal preferences but their political and don’t necessarily get you in jail or

and don’t necessarily get you in jail or

and don’t necessarily get you in jail or killed privileged ladies and gentlemen

killed privileged ladies and gentlemen

killed privileged ladies and gentlemen is my Leonardo DiCaprio can play the

is my Leonardo DiCaprio can play the

is my Leonardo DiCaprio can play the character of a man in a wheelchair but

character of a man in a wheelchair but

character of a man in a wheelchair but an actual man in a wheelchair cannot

an actual man in a wheelchair cannot

an actual man in a wheelchair cannot play that character what I’m talking

play that character what I’m talking

play that character what I’m talking about is able-bodied privilege it’s when

about is able-bodied privilege it’s when

about is able-bodied privilege it’s when able-bodied actors and actresses are

able-bodied actors and actresses are

able-bodied actors and actresses are cast to play differently abled

cast to play differently abled

cast to play differently abled characters at the expense of real

characters at the expense of real

characters at the expense of real differently abled human beings but most

differently abled human beings but most

differently abled human beings but most importantly of all privilege is not

importantly of all privilege is not

importantly of all privilege is not something to be ashamed of having the

something to be ashamed of having the

something to be ashamed of having the biggest problems that are happening

biggest problems that are happening

biggest problems that are happening today around the world that are

today around the world that are

today around the world that are affecting the human race are because

affecting the human race are because

affecting the human race are because some people refuse to acknowledge their

some people refuse to acknowledge their

some people refuse to acknowledge their privileges but before we get to

privileges but before we get to

privileges but before we get to acknowledgment of privilege let us first

acknowledgment of privilege let us first

acknowledgment of privilege let us first understand something together you and I

understand something together you and I

understand something together you and I let us suppose the scenario let us

let us suppose the scenario let us

let us suppose the scenario let us suppose that a certain person a man for

suppose that a certain person a man for

suppose that a certain person a man for instance is non-sexist

instance is non-sexist

instance is non-sexist this non-sexist man still benefits from

this non-sexist man still benefits from

this non-sexist man still benefits from sexism because sexism gives him an other

sexism because sexism gives him an other

sexism because sexism gives him an other men priority over women and the same

men priority over women and the same

men priority over women and the same situation goes for all privileged people

situation goes for all privileged people

situation goes for all privileged people and that is exactly why if you ask me

and that is exactly why if you ask me

and that is exactly why if you ask me simply admitting that we are somehow

simply admitting that we are somehow

simply admitting that we are somehow perceived as more entitled is not enough

perceived as more entitled is not enough

perceived as more entitled is not enough we need to work on altering these

we need to work on altering these

we need to work on altering these structures that are giving us is unfair

structures that are giving us is unfair

structures that are giving us is unfair privilege and that doesn’t mean we have

privilege and that doesn’t mean we have

privilege and that doesn’t mean we have to stop being male or stop being white

to stop being male or stop being white

to stop being male or stop being white or stop being able bodied what that

or stop being able bodied what that

or stop being able bodied what that means is that we need to make sure that

means is that we need to make sure that

means is that we need to make sure that these identities we possess don’t put

these identities we possess don’t put

these identities we possess don’t put others at a disadvantage

others at a disadvantage

others at a disadvantage it also means we have to employ these

it also means we have to employ these

it also means we have to employ these privileges to help those of us who don’t

privileges to help those of us who don’t

privileges to help those of us who don’t enjoy them because I think we never

enjoy them because I think we never

enjoy them because I think we never really get to understand to wrap our

really get to understand to wrap our

really get to understand to wrap our heads around the idea of privilege

heads around the idea of privilege

heads around the idea of privilege properly so every single person of us

properly so every single person of us

properly so every single person of us can relate to being both privileged and

can relate to being both privileged and

can relate to being both privileged and underprivileged how take me as an

underprivileged how take me as an

underprivileged how take me as an example I am underprivileged because

example I am underprivileged because

example I am underprivileged because some people still seem to think that

some people still seem to think that

some people still seem to think that my femininity can get in the way of my

my femininity can get in the way of my

my femininity can get in the way of my rationality that that I cannot take a

rationality that that I cannot take a

rationality that that I cannot take a decision but ironically I recall that

decision but ironically I recall that

decision but ironically I recall that every time I do the occasion I’m labeled

every time I do the occasion I’m labeled

every time I do the occasion I’m labeled bossy and and and cold I am a young

bossy and and and cold I am a young

bossy and and and cold I am a young Muslim woman if I tomorrow decide to

Muslim woman if I tomorrow decide to

Muslim woman if I tomorrow decide to wear the veil my goal of becoming judge

wear the veil my goal of becoming judge

wear the veil my goal of becoming judge in Lebanon will be immediately shattered

in Lebanon will be immediately shattered

in Lebanon will be immediately shattered just like that like so many girls so I’m

just like that like so many girls so I’m

just like that like so many girls so I’m not alone like so many girls I suffer

not alone like so many girls I suffer

not alone like so many girls I suffer from this gender privilege because some

from this gender privilege because some

from this gender privilege because some people can’t see past my hair and my

people can’t see past my hair and my

people can’t see past my hair and my skin and I on the other hand I cannot

skin and I on the other hand I cannot

skin and I on the other hand I cannot seem to convince them that I’m more than

seem to convince them that I’m more than

seem to convince them that I’m more than just an appearance but simultaneously I

just an appearance but simultaneously I

just an appearance but simultaneously I find myself very privileged because I

find myself very privileged because I

find myself very privileged because I have been brought up in a household

have been brought up in a household

have been brought up in a household capable enough of providing me with a

capable enough of providing me with a

capable enough of providing me with a good education and accordingly enough

good education and accordingly enough

good education and accordingly enough experience that told me to be brave

experience that told me to be brave

experience that told me to be brave enough to voice out my opinions without

enough to voice out my opinions without

enough to voice out my opinions without having to worry about whose feelings I

having to worry about whose feelings I

having to worry about whose feelings I have to safeguard or what labels what

have to safeguard or what labels what

have to safeguard or what labels what names I will be called so in this sense

names I will be called so in this sense

names I will be called so in this sense I’m more privileged than this other girl

I’m more privileged than this other girl

I’m more privileged than this other girl who has the same aspirations as myself

who has the same aspirations as myself

who has the same aspirations as myself could probably be better than me at

could probably be better than me at

could probably be better than me at reading and public speaking only only

reading and public speaking only only

reading and public speaking only only this girl could not be here in my place

this girl could not be here in my place

this girl could not be here in my place because she did not have the privileges

because she did not have the privileges

because she did not have the privileges that I did and if she finds fault and

that I did and if she finds fault and

that I did and if she finds fault and injustice if this girl finds herself

injustice if this girl finds herself

injustice if this girl finds herself discriminated against she’s not entitled

discriminated against she’s not entitled

discriminated against she’s not entitled speak up about these things like I am

speak up about these things like I am

speak up about these things like I am but however if we haven’t noticed both

but however if we haven’t noticed both

but however if we haven’t noticed both scenarios do lead to the same result

scenarios do lead to the same result

scenarios do lead to the same result so if I were a bits more or a bit less

so if I were a bits more or a bit less

so if I were a bits more or a bit less privileged I wouldn’t be standing here

privileged I wouldn’t be standing here

privileged I wouldn’t be standing here and we wouldn’t be having this talk this

and we wouldn’t be having this talk this

and we wouldn’t be having this talk this era that we’re currently living in it’s

era that we’re currently living in it’s

era that we’re currently living in it’s the era of social activism more than

the era of social activism more than

the era of social activism more than ever we see young activists take to the

ever we see young activists take to the

ever we see young activists take to the street to stand up for the injustice

street to stand up for the injustice

street to stand up for the injustice they face to take action good news right

they face to take action good news right

they face to take action good news right no not good news because what’s wrong

no not good news because what’s wrong

no not good news because what’s wrong with this picture

with this picture

with this picture is that they the underprivileged are the

is that they the underprivileged are the

is that they the underprivileged are the majority if not the only ones who are

majority if not the only ones who are

majority if not the only ones who are holding the protest signs the only ones

holding the protest signs the only ones

holding the protest signs the only ones who are put in the face of armed forces

who are put in the face of armed forces

who are put in the face of armed forces order to maintain civil peace

order to maintain civil peace

order to maintain civil peace so before we seek to end our own

so before we seek to end our own

so before we seek to end our own struggles with being discriminated

struggles with being discriminated

struggles with being discriminated against and before we ask others to

against and before we ask others to

against and before we ask others to support us we need to examine how and

support us we need to examine how and

support us we need to examine how and what we are doing in order to end other

what we are doing in order to end other

what we are doing in order to end other struggles how we are supporting those

struggles how we are supporting those

struggles how we are supporting those who are less privileged than us

who are less privileged than us

who are less privileged than us because if any positive change is to

because if any positive change is to

because if any positive change is to occur and putting an end stop the

occur and putting an end stop the

occur and putting an end stop the discrimination each and every person of

discrimination each and every person of

discrimination each and every person of us has a role to play so this sounds

us has a role to play so this sounds

us has a role to play so this sounds very simple but the rich should help the

very simple but the rich should help the

very simple but the rich should help the poor and man should fight for gender

poor and man should fight for gender

poor and man should fight for gender equality and institutions must be

equality and institutions must be

equality and institutions must be structured to at least meet the needs of

structured to at least meet the needs of

structured to at least meet the needs of all members in the society abled and

all members in the society abled and

all members in the society abled and differently abled and because

differently abled and because

differently abled and because fundamental rights or in principle for

fundamental rights or in principle for

fundamental rights or in principle for everybody in practice they should be

everybody in practice they should be

everybody in practice they should be granted to everybody it is about time

granted to everybody it is about time

granted to everybody it is about time that transparent and open conversations

that transparent and open conversations

that transparent and open conversations on prejudice take place within local

on prejudice take place within local

on prejudice take place within local communities at national and

communities at national and

communities at national and international levels and these

international levels and these

international levels and these conversations must soon become

conversations must soon become

conversations must soon become discourses that are able to shape our

discourses that are able to shape our

discourses that are able to shape our attitudes on one hand and change our

attitudes on one hand and change our

attitudes on one hand and change our behaviors on the other when dealing with

behaviors on the other when dealing with

behaviors on the other when dealing with or when responding to cases of unfair

or when responding to cases of unfair

or when responding to cases of unfair privilege but such discourses demand

privilege but such discourses demand

privilege but such discourses demand courage and perseverance and sacrifices

courage and perseverance and sacrifices

courage and perseverance and sacrifices and many more

and many more

and many more but in this uncertain world that we are

but in this uncertain world that we are

but in this uncertain world that we are currently living in it’s time we truly

currently living in it’s time we truly

currently living in it’s time we truly act act for the sake of others before

act act for the sake of others before

act act for the sake of others before our own I for instance have started to

our own I for instance have started to

our own I for instance have started to employ my privileged voice whenever

employ my privileged voice whenever

employ my privileged voice whenever possible for those who are less

possible for those who are less

possible for those who are less privileged I hope you do too thank you

privileged I hope you do too thank you

privileged I hope you do too thank you [Applause]