As an American society, we are very hesitant to admit our prejudices. The important thing is to remember that privilege is not your fault, but it is your responsibility to be aware of it and to try to use it for good. There is no need to be guilty for not being discriminated against, nobody wants that to happen to you. However, there is no room for denying privilege. Talks of privilege usually come up in regards to race relations, but there are many different types of privilege.
Anyone who has lived in Michigan between November and March knows what winter is. Others might be somewhat familiar with the concept, but Michigan winters are some of the harshest winters in the U.S. Going to school at the University of Michigan, you see all types of winter wear. Everyone’s favorite to mock: the Canada goose coat. In my second winter spent in Ann Arbor, I’ve noticed a divide between in state and out of state students. Students from Michigan try to prove their toughness by not properly dressing for the weather or exclaiming that it’s not actually that cold. When I complained about it being 15 degrees, someone told me that I was from Michigan so I should have learned how to suck it up by now.
PSA: WINTER IS NOT THE SAME FOR EVERYONE
It’s not something you can expect people to think about unless they’ve witnessed it firsthand, but being disabled in the winter is horrible, for many reasons. For wheelchair users, the snow and ice pose difficulty in getting to and from places. For me, it means being cold, A LOT. Yes I’m from Michigan and I should’ve sucked it up by now according to you, but I can’t do the same things others can to stay warm. First of all, I weigh 85 pounds. I have very little body fat and poor circulation which means I naturally run cold. Furthermore, I can’t reach my head to wear a hat. Next time you go outside and walk for 20 minutes in the middle of January in 20 degree weather with 15 mph winds without having your head or ears covered, I’d like to see you not complain about how cold you are.
To be frank, I’m sick of people passing judgements about things they know nothing about. YOU do not know what someone is going through. Therefore, you should not be telling them to their face that they are weak. Getting through a day in the winter is a serious struggle for me and other disabled people. I’m cold and there’s nothing I can do about it. I still have to walk to class. So next time you want to tell someone to be quiet and suck it up, DON’T.
Yes the privilege of being able to wear a hat seems minimal compared to other privileges that groups are afforded, but that doesn’t change the fact that it’s a privilege. So this winter be grateful for the few extra pounds that help insulate you and be grateful for your hat and scarf you put on when you walk out the door.
Although this specifically is about winter, it applies to everything. If you are not disabled, you are most likely ableist. I don’t blame you; I was too before. But now that you know, please try to be more cognizant of different abilities. We understand that not everything can be accommodated for us. However, being understood and having an effort made to include us goes farther than you will ever know. It gets tiring to constantly have to leave environments or not go in the first place because they’re unsuitable for us. JUST BE AWARE.
Medulla Ossium 