Scandal. Season 5, episode 4: "Dog-Whistle Politics"
A Rant --
So, I was watching Scandal (way back in October, but for anyone reading this: I've been busy.) and this woman is explaining Olivia Pope's life and how her father made sure she had the best education and the opportunity to become queen of the world if she wanted to, and how he did terrible things and made sacrifices to get Olivia these opportunities. And the woman calls what Olivia has "manufactured privilege" and questions if she expects to be treated the same as the First Lady (long backstory here - so either watch Scandal or go with it).
And this is the moment that I texted my best friend on whether or not I should be offended that this woman just said that Olivia's privilege (in life, mind you) is "manufactured." We both agreed that I should have been offended. And as I sat there, Scandal continuing to run in the background, I couldn't help but wonder if people thought the same of me. If my privilege wasn't equal to the privilege of a white man or woman because I had to work harder to get it, because I wasn't born with it? If so, does that mean I will never be able to make it in life, that everything I do will just be one inch less than what people with real privilege and real opportunity? Will I never get the respect and props I deserve for my work? Or will I constantly be seen as underrated, or worse, overrated because of my "manufactured privilege?" And overall, there is the trickiness of me having to contemplate if my awesome education means that my privilege is manufactured because of my skin tone and my SES and my roots?
I don't have any answers. Of course, as I sit here, I'm like no, my privilege is earned and well-deserved. Anyways, that's my rant.
For more, see here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/bthesite/tv-lust/bal-scandal-recap-dog-whistle-politics-20151016-story.html
