A Context Independent Definition of Privilege

The term privilege is used widely in contemporary social theory, yet its meaning shifts with the social environment. This makes the concept unstable. I argue that a characteristic counts as a privilege only if it is an unearned advantage present at birth, independent of action, unaffected by consequence and persistent across all environments. Under this test, almost all common uses of the word fail. Only one category remains consistent across every context. Being born with a fully functioning body and mind is the only form of privilege that does not rely on human structures or behaviour. Everything else labelled as privilege is a reflection of oppression placed on others rather than a true advantage possessed by the individual.