Mapping Privilege

Some questions I have found important to ask, main influences in this sliding scale philosophy are Toi Marie and Rachel Ricketts. This is by no means a comprehensive list for mapping privilege and is meant to be a very basic way of determining one’s immediate access to financial privilege.

Are my basic needs covered? Housing, Food, Phone, Transportation, Medical?

Have my basic needs always been covered? Have they ever not been? How much of my life up till now has been scraping to get by and how much has not?

What do I have covered beyond basic needs, without having to dip into what is essential? Without missing payments on the above, can I go on vacation? Can I do activities? Have a gym membership or other paid fitness classes? Get nails done, go to the hair salon, or any other beauty services? How easy is it to have these things paid for? How easy is it to afford the higher priced items for anything?

How are they covered? Have I been in a salaried job for several years? Do I have tenure? Do I have stability? Am I a gig worker? Am I self-employed? Do I live paycheque to paycheque? Do own a business? Am I earning profits beyond my own wages on that business? Am I on government supports? Am I financially supported by family members? Am I receiving supports that others may not?

What assets do I own in my name? Car, house?

Do I have savings of any kind that I could dip into in an emergency? Do I have family I can ask for help in an emergency? Would they give it without strings attached?

Am I a caregiver to another human? Animal kin? Am I the sole caregiver? Am I the sole provider of financial support for them?

What is my credit like? How easily could I get a loan or a credit card?