Why Is Being Intelligent Never Included In A List of Unearned Privileges?

[Keith Maitland]

I read this on the University of California website last week.

Becoming aware of privilege should not be viewed as a burden or source of guilt, but rather, an opportunity to learn and be responsible so that we may work toward a more just and inclusive world.

Check your privilege:

White
Male
Class
Christian
Cisgender
Able-bodied
Heterosexual

Question:

Why is being 'intelligent' never included in a list of unearned privileges?

Shouldn't high IQ people give humble thanks every morning for their completely unearned gift?

[Owlswing]

I read this on the University of California website last week.

Becoming aware of privilege should not be viewed as a burden or source of guilt, but rather, an opportunity to learn and be responsible so that we may work toward a more just and inclusive world.

Check your privilege:

White
Male
Class
Christian
Cisgender
Able-bodied
Heterosexual

Question:

Why is being 'intelligent' never included in a list of unearned privileges?

Shouldn't high IQ people give humble thanks every morning for their completely unearned gift?

A gift from whom?

Their parents?

And please do NOT say god!

[Red Giant]

No mention of "Being American" either.

But you're right of course.

[Owlswing]

Also I would like to know why the University of California considers female, non-Christian, Transgender and Homosexual/Lesbian people to be non-privileged.

I would not classify any of the statuses listed as privileges but as enforced compliance with bigoted standards.

[ippy]

I read this on the University of California website last week.

Becoming aware of privilege should not be viewed as a burden or source of guilt, but rather, an opportunity to learn and be responsible so that we may work toward a more just and inclusive world.

Check your privilege:

White
Male
Class
Christian
Cisgender
Able-bodied
Heterosexual

Question:

Why is being 'intelligent' never included in a list of unearned privileges?

Shouldn't high IQ people give humble thanks every morning for their completely unearned gift?

Perhaps they just hadn't thought of it?

ippy

[Outrider]

Perhaps because although capacity is strongly influenced by inheritable traits, to actually be at the point where your intelligence makes a difference you need to have put considerable effort into it as well?

Also, in the main, intelligence and education aren't necessarily the same thing: education itself rarely gets you anywhere, whereas your education does. There's plenty of people who will criticise the tendency of public school old-boys to pick public-school old-boys for plum roles in government and the civil-service - that's education, but it's no real judgment on their intelligence.

O.

[ekim]

'Check your privilege' would have been better expressed as 'Check your prejudices'.

[Owlswing]

'Check your privilege' would have been better expressed as 'Check your prejudices'.

Well said.

[Hope]

White
Male
Class
Christian
Cisgender
Able-bodied
Heterosexual

Question:

Why is being 'intelligent' never included in a list of unearned privileges?

Shouldn't high IQ people give humble thanks every morning for their completely unearned gift?

I suppose you might as well ask why 'being a human' isn't included in such a list, Keith.  Or brown-skinned, or 'slant-eyed' (and, no, that wasn't meant in a derogatory way), or 1.82 metres tall, or ..., or ... .

[Hope]

Also I would like to know why the University of California considers ... Transgender ... people to be non-privileged.

Seem to recall that Germaine Greer does regard male2female transgendered to be 'non-privileged'. 

[Owlswing]

Also I would like to know why the University of California considers ... Transgender ... people to be non-privileged.

Seem to recall that Germaine Greer does regard male2female transgendered to be 'non-privileged'. 

I had the misfortune to meet Ms Greer when I lived in Australia - amazing as it may seem a lot of Aussies don't like her much either - she was then seen as being a pompuous opinionated arse who was almost totally incapable of taking criticsm.

[Bubbles]

Also I would like to know why the University of California considers ... Transgender ... people to be non-privileged.

Seem to recall that Germaine Greer does regard male2female transgendered to be 'non-privileged'. 

I had the misfortune to meet Ms Greer when I lived in Australia - amazing as it may seem a lot of Aussies don't like her much either - she was then seen as being a pompuous opinionated arse who was almost totally incapable of taking criticsm.

 

That's sounds as if it didn't go too well ?

🐉