How to Recognize Privilege - and Uplift Those Without It | Mariam Veiszadeh | TED

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  • čas přidán 6. 02. 2023
  • Depending on your lot in life, you may see the status quo as a result of unearned privilege or a simple reflection of merit. Backed by statistics and personal stories, lawyer Mariam Veiszadeh offers a much-needed perspective check on the quasi-equality touted in business today, calling for real change in workplace diversity and inclusion that routs out biases rather than replicating them.
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Komentáře • 120

  • @gnostic268
    @gnostic268 Před rokem +18

    Privilege is rich people who have inherited millions without working a single day.not skin color. Instead of feeling sorry for yourself be an example. I'm a minority. It's embarrassing to listen to the "poor me" narratives ad nauseum

  • @davebushmediadesign
    @davebushmediadesign Před rokem +20

    Artificially tipping the scales to create a balance is not the answer. Inclusion by exclusion is profoundly (and ironically) damaging to everyone involved.

  • @TNothingFree
    @TNothingFree Před rokem +39

    I understand the idea of "Privilege" however blaming society groups for the unfortunate is very cumbersome and not a solution whatsoever.
    In the contrary - many "Privilege" groups are actively trying to raise the bar with volunteering and donations.
    She didn't say it but her images just imply "AH yeah it's white male who are privileged".
    Kudos to TED who didn't disable comments on this video - I fully expected them to be.

  • @kkardi
    @kkardi Před rokem +19

    If you live in north America regardless of skin colour. You're super privileged.

  • @jawi499
    @jawi499 Před rokem +43

    She implies that she is a victim. That society needs to change to give her a chance. She is already a lawyer. She said nothing about what she has done. Is she donating 1/2 her money to those less fortunate? It is easy to say “you” have to do something but do nothing yourself.

    • @forgottenfuryan
      @forgottenfuryan Před rokem

      Traditional women benefit from feminist laws and don't lobby for change, making them defacto feminists.....confirmed.

    • @TheEvolver311
      @TheEvolver311 Před rokem +1

      Philanthropy and charity are a scam by the wealthy ruling elites to not actually allow any meaningful change that would benefit the poor and workingclass

    • @aliz2480
      @aliz2480 Před rokem +2

      She’s given this Ted talk, thank you for your comment.

    • @santanuborah
      @santanuborah Před rokem +5

      Yes, the whole speech is biased towards self-victimization.

    • @TheEvolver311
      @TheEvolver311 Před rokem +2

      @@santanuborah no it isn't

  • @theApeShow
    @theApeShow Před rokem +71

    Teach the people to focus on race and change their behavior because of that observation. Got it.

    • @aliz2480
      @aliz2480 Před rokem +2

      Any people in power may elect by affinity bias. Representation is required for better merit.

    • @aliz2480
      @aliz2480 Před rokem

      There’s complexity of truth to the extent for merit by representation.

    • @aliz2480
      @aliz2480 Před rokem +1

      Some smart people are disregarded due to race, so focus on their merit of smart, and their representation of race. Better analysis, simply.

    • @wailenhalen18
      @wailenhalen18 Před rokem +1

      I thought it's racist to focus on their race and it's better to treat them as a person? This is all confusing.

    • @aliz2480
      @aliz2480 Před rokem

      @@wailenhalen18 race gives info to biologists, generally, but to discriminate rather than improve equity of those races is racism, generally. People have race background, you’re wanting to disregard race altogether?

  • @Kill_a_Bear
    @Kill_a_Bear Před rokem +17

    The moment this person mentioned that there job was a diversity and inclusion consultant (@2:55ish) I knew what in for.
    Sorry, T.E.D. talks, but I disliked this.

  • @Zerobob26
    @Zerobob26 Před rokem +36

    The world is an unfair place for a lot of people, regardless of race and gender.
    ... But if you do want to focus on race and gender... The majority of the UK and Australian population are white, so statistically, I'd expect the majority of public faces to also be white.
    It's also illegal to pay men and women differently for the same work, as per the Equal Pay Act.
    It's also very telling that she labels anyone who disagrees with her as a "troll" in order to discredit them and shut down any discourse on her extremely blinkered viewpoint.

  • @johnnyjones5385
    @johnnyjones5385 Před rokem +23

    "Free people make free choices. Free choices mean you get unequal outcomes.
    You can have freedom, or you can have equal outcomes. You can’t have both."

  • @inkl9483
    @inkl9483 Před rokem

    _Great coverage._ 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

  • @369spartan
    @369spartan Před rokem +9

    How to recognize CRT prejudices.

  • @janningc
    @janningc Před rokem +9

    I always wondered why applying to jobs under my married name got me so many more responses than applying to jobs under my maiden name. Now I know I'm not alone.

  • @efbland1
    @efbland1 Před rokem +10

    We need to decide as a society how we want to balance equal quality of life vs maximum productivity. Hiring the best qualified individuals is generally best for productivity, but the best qualified individuals are often the most privileged, as Mariam mentions.
    But I disagree with the discussion of merit. Isn't merit just another form of discrimination? Let's say I am '6"5 tall (I'm not). If I practice a lot of basketball, maybe I can be a pro. I would be rewarded for my merit - all of that dedicated practice. But what if I were '5"6 tall? I could practice basketball with just as much dedication, but my chances of becoming a pro - of generating 'merit' are much, much lower.
    The difference between these two scenarios is not in my dedication, but in my height, which is completely outside of my control, much like race, gender, or place of birth. When we optimize for merit, we simply shift the basis by which we choose to discriminate.
    That said, optimizing for productivity has plenty of advantages, and while equality may not be one of them, it would be foolish not to atleast consider the losses in productivity that could occur by artificially leveling the playing field. Personally, I prefer equality over productivity, but there are real costs in either direction.
    TLDR: I agree with Mariam's point (that equality is a worthy goal to be pursued), but I'm not sure that accomplishing equality is simple, easy, or without cost.

    • @LegendLength
      @LegendLength Před rokem

      I agree we focus way too much on productivity. But, companies should have the right to choose good people. If they don't care that's fine too.
      My problem is the way all society focuses on 12 years of schooling followed by 5 years of university then years of grinding and training at a job. It's not how life should be, people really have been fooled. They need to smoke a joint and listen carefully to stairway to heaven.

    • @Matt-kt9nm
      @Matt-kt9nm Před rokem +1

      She isn't talking about equality. She's talking about equal outcomes. Equal outcomes demands discrimination that lowers all standards.

  • @NguyenCuong-qz8lc
    @NguyenCuong-qz8lc Před rokem

    great idea

  • @NupeAtl
    @NupeAtl Před rokem +5

    When you need to be taught the obvious, you're in trouble if you don't learn it.

  • @xxtoy.foxy_queenz5661
    @xxtoy.foxy_queenz5661 Před rokem +7

    The whole American government is privileged

  • @funnytv-1631
    @funnytv-1631 Před rokem +19

    Everything you want is within you, the strength,the patience and the courage to change your life. You just have to look within and find it....

  • @DeniseSkinner68DeniseSkinner68

    I don't know at times I didn't know how to answer it and other times I wanted to sit and other times I wanted to stand and no that's not my bipolar with ups and downs

  • @jawi499
    @jawi499 Před rokem +10

    Maybe those people at the top worked to get there and has nothing to do with bias? Maybe they were born rich or had the right genes. Too many assumptions in this talk.

    • @1924woody
      @1924woody Před rokem

      She is essentially talking about privilege, not just bias. If they were ‘born rich’ that would clearly be a privilege.

  • @wesleymarshall6563
    @wesleymarshall6563 Před rokem +13

    "I dont mean to make anyone uncomfortable, but compare yourselves to the strangers around you and reflect on how they had it better than you." What a wonderful, constructive message. I noticed that she didn't really explain the diversity dividend besides showing the numbers and quoting a single study she didn't mention by name in the corner of the screen.

  • @TNothingFree
    @TNothingFree Před rokem +34

    Yes Racism and Bias exists in human nature - it's unavoidable.
    But if you build your whole argument around "Oh it's white male who are wrong" then it's no use.
    There are plenty of "White men" who like to share and aren't biased - fight the individuals who are racist, not the group.
    It's not like white men have a secret Telegram group where they coordinate their "bias". Jee.

    • @efbland1
      @efbland1 Před rokem +4

      Right, I think it doesn't much help to shame individuals just because they happen to be part of a group that is historically privileged. Racism and bias exist in all of us, as you say, not just those of us with privilege. That inequality of privilege exists is certainly a problem, but vilifying those who benefit from it probably won't get us to a solution. I would rather we fight the systems that permit discrimination to create inequality (for example, nepotism, like another commenter mentioned).

    • @TNothingFree
      @TNothingFree Před rokem +1

      ​@@efbland1 Who were historically privileged?
      The world was a mess in the last 500 years...

    • @Daniel-xp4yg
      @Daniel-xp4yg Před rokem

      it is not natural to be racist, saying that is racist

    • @TNothingFree
      @TNothingFree Před rokem

      ​@@Daniel-xp4yg It's only natural to grow bias towards certain things like your family.
      Evidence exists even in animals...
      I don't say it's right, only that it's natural to be suspicious of things we don't know.

    • @Matt-kt9nm
      @Matt-kt9nm Před rokem

      @Daniel Tribalism is an evolutionary trait found in all humans.
      Most claims of racism are really tribalism.

  • @Rippone
    @Rippone Před rokem +2

    As a white man, born in a Western country, from middle class parents, I do recognise that I am having an easier life than most. I see that other friends I grew up with, of different gender and/or ethnic background, they have faced barriers I never faced. Privilege exists, and this needs to change.

  • @donaldrandolphneely9823

    Yeah i digging it

  • @thomaswilliams4944
    @thomaswilliams4944 Před rokem +10

    Veteran here. I fought for your right to work and make your own happiness, no matter your race, gender, whatever...

    • @Fnidner
      @Fnidner Před rokem +2

      kill any civilians?

    • @LegendLength
      @LegendLength Před rokem

      @@Fnidner no it was mostly commies doing that

  • @citraw.n6714
    @citraw.n6714 Před rokem

    thanks a lot for suibtable❤❤

  • @blessytheone2567
    @blessytheone2567 Před rokem

    Very mature and well rounded it is loud and clear

  • @thebigdawgj
    @thebigdawgj Před rokem +1

    What hard science backs that up?

  • @Izael1701
    @Izael1701 Před rokem +3

    So, I clicked on this video with an open mind... however, Question 3 is a bogus question. "At some point in your life you felt that you were one of the few, or only persons, of your gender, race, faith, sexual orientation, or disability in a room in an educational or professional setting?" If we, as a society, allow a spectrum of infinite genders, then is it not entirely possible for someone of a certain gender to indeed be the only person of that specific gender? Moreover, as more and more classifications of sexual orientation 'come out,' is it not entirely possible to have fewer people of that sexual orientation? Furthermore, people with disabilities may very well be the only person in a room in an educational or professional environment with their affliction. How many disabled athletes are there in professional sports? When are we going to advocate that professional sports leagues be more inclusive of those with a desire to play, but have a disability? When shall we advocate for people with disabilities to be allowed to train for missions in space?
    Regarding the illustration at the 5:00 mark, how do you classify those people who have additional obstacles in life... but those obstacles were put in their life as a consequence of their own choices? I know you want to focus on race, as evidenced by the caricatures in the illustration... but if we compare two people: Person 1 was someone who studied hard in public school, focused on working/earning an income and self-betterment, whereas Person 2 was someone who didn't care so much for school, partied, and otherwise neglected some of their responsibilities. If you fast forward both lives, there is a higher likelihood that Person 1 will become more successful because they had fewer obstacles in life... because they PREVENTED those obstacles from getting in the way in the first place.
    Discussing privilege is a tricky and slippery slope. It becomes very easy to villify certain demographics of people because of their perceived "privileges." Eventually, there may stem a bias against demographics of people because of their perceived "privileged."
    You say you don't want companies to "check box" for diversity in hires. Okay. How do you propose we accomplish this? I propose that potential employees submit their work applications and resumes without their names or ethnicity listed, and allow a company to hire that person based solely off of their achievements and accomplishments. Beyond letters of recommendation, that would yield the desired result, or would at least step closer towards achieving the desired result of hiring based on merit, correct?

    • @janningc
      @janningc Před rokem +1

      Well, for the purposes of discussion, some companies don't even ask for a resume. Job candidates take their various tests (skills test, personality test, etc.) and hire based on the scores. It's not a perfect system, but it moves the needle.

    • @Izael1701
      @Izael1701 Před rokem +1

      @@janningc That sounds like a neat idea.

    • @chanmeng4370
      @chanmeng4370 Před rokem +1

      Well. I ever talked about this with staff of human resources in different companies in different countries. The answer is almost the same. If we conceal the identifiable information referring to bias or discrimination, just choose people by their achievements and competence, most of time the ones they haired at last would be the ones who are privileged. It is uncomfortable. But is the equality they desired?

  • @hope.8.
    @hope.8. Před rokem +10

    So much more convenient and easier to dismiss those who don't reaffirm your world view. "Collective shame is not guilt", and accepting flaws is how growth happens. Accepting reality can't be convenient. Amazing how freedom and open-mindedness is claimed by people who have to always be right.

  • @jacqpaloma
    @jacqpaloma Před rokem

    It's no one's fault... they just need to be re educated!

  • @thecatdowntheroad369
    @thecatdowntheroad369 Před rokem +1

    The title = this video

  • @johnbee7729
    @johnbee7729 Před rokem +5

    Privelege exists in western society. And most with privelege will come out swinging that either #1 privelege does not exist or #2 its all about race. Sadly theybare unwillingly to admit that it exists. As a 60 year old white male in a western country I do know that I was priveleged and that it benefited me greatly.

  • @1Esteband
    @1Esteband Před rokem +1

    I agree that merit is not the main way to progress but by far "who you know" was, is and will remain the fastest way to progress. But definetely these social warriors won't touch the subject because they succedeed due to it too.

  • @Matt-kt9nm
    @Matt-kt9nm Před rokem +2

    She's one of the most privileged people who have ever lived.
    Essentially, she wants the government to not only discriminate but force the public to enforce this discrimination.

  • @thatomofolo452
    @thatomofolo452 Před rokem +1

    Word 🦁🦁🦁😤

  • @Kyp031
    @Kyp031 Před rokem +2

    Ted talks is a privilege.

  • @MaineBotanical
    @MaineBotanical Před rokem

    I thought this was great and informative and a little ironic that one of her last quotes on the definition of insantiy was from a white male.

  • @cinnamondh23
    @cinnamondh23 Před rokem +6

    In her own words, "Those who have the most amounts of privilege, they probably not entirely conscious of it".
    The irony is that she is one of them.

    • @Rippone
      @Rippone Před rokem +2

      She does say she is and that she accepts her own form of privilege.

  • @OhNoBohNo
    @OhNoBohNo Před rokem +2

    Very mature and well-rounded comment section, everyone, great work

  • @criose
    @criose Před rokem +9

    Honestly a good way to fight privilege is to put in a law against nepotism.

  • @huntsail3727
    @huntsail3727 Před rokem +1

    Utter nonsense, unequal outcomes are the stuff of life. And what motivates. This speaker wants to kill the motivation of those who would benefit the most from a shot in the arm are a kick in the butt to climb higher.
    Sad, that this nonsensical viewpoint is so common, and so detrimental to those who are taken in by it. Let's hope this woman gets a clue and those who hear her have the sense to move on, start from where they are and go get whatever it is inspires them.

  • @jaytsecan
    @jaytsecan Před rokem +1

    Thank you TED for this wonderful video - more people need to see and understand it. But unfortunately, because of lack of awareness of unconscious biases, few will...

    • @davearonow65
      @davearonow65 Před rokem

      I agree that people lack awareness.
      See "Jay Tse".

  • @notorioushsg1
    @notorioushsg1 Před rokem +4

    Look at the demographic of lawyers. You don't fit the 'norm'. She wasn't intentionally being rude. You just took offence as everyone seems to now days. Instead of complaining you should be grateful that you are the change. Australia is changing... it takes time.

  • @joaoclira
    @joaoclira Před rokem +40

    Every time I see a happy family where people love and support each other, I think: “That’s a privilege.” The rest is BS. Didn’t bother to see the video.

    • @imorokr
      @imorokr Před rokem +4

      At least you're honest. It's always surprising to see white people get so offended at academic study on racial biases.

    • @florinho1994
      @florinho1994 Před rokem +4

      @@imorokr well there were no academic studies presented, just opinions

  • @sierrahotel4632
    @sierrahotel4632 Před rokem +3

    Success is entirely based on luck, so hoping to deal with any of this is insanity. Maybe in a different world, world without scarcity, but current: no way.

  • @peterq1978
    @peterq1978 Před rokem

    i got the 42nd like!

  • @marufjondusmuradov3979

    Perfect

  • @imorokr
    @imorokr Před rokem +8

    You know it's gonna be a good one when the living descendants of colonizers are offended before they've even seen the video. 😂

  • @michaelpuckett6612
    @michaelpuckett6612 Před 5 měsíci

    Go woke go broke 😅 trump 2024

  • @MartieFaye
    @MartieFaye Před rokem +3

    Wow, what a timely TED talk. I was just ruminating on this topic

  • @RogerWazup007
    @RogerWazup007 Před rokem +3

    As soon as I saw the title, I predicted a huge downvote ratio probably largely by conservatives, people in the center who've been swayed by right-wing talking points and rising anti-woke mentalities, and people who downvoted without watching the video. People don't like being told they have privilege, don't understand that there are different categories (i.e., being white or having white privilege doesn't mean you're guaranteed to be wealthy and successful or to have a comfy childhood, and it doesn't mean that you didn't earn everything you own), and often don't understand what's meant by the term privilege.

    • @tiefensucht
      @tiefensucht Před rokem +3

      Would you say that there is something like jewish privilege?

    • @RogerWazup007
      @RogerWazup007 Před rokem

      Not in the US, although they're likely above Muslims and atheists in terms of facing less discrimination than those groups. Christians are the privileged religious group in the US, with local areas favoring certain kinds of Christianity but generally accepting Christians overall above other groups. There is a significant amount of anti-Semitism in the US that seems more prevalent in certain circles, although I'm not sure which.

  • @AndroidCovenant
    @AndroidCovenant Před rokem +8

    I don't see any problem with what she's saying. Why the dislikes?

    • @TheEvolver311
      @TheEvolver311 Před rokem +6

      Because no one wants to admit that they might have benefited from anything they didn't actively do for themselves especially not something that was 9/10 completely passively occurring without their awareness.

  • @kentuckianabf
    @kentuckianabf Před rokem +4

    This is beautifully said and I'm so glad I'll be using this for a school lesson!

  • @nimashokouhfar52
    @nimashokouhfar52 Před rokem

    Great talk....🙏🙏🙏

    • @nimashokouhfar52
      @nimashokouhfar52 Před rokem +1

      Thanks for the corrections.
      Nonetheless, I would like to appreciate the speaker for standing up and sharing her experience as a minority. We are humans and we do mistakes. No one knows everything. So, some minor mistakes should be forgivable.
      😊

    • @forgottenfuryan
      @forgottenfuryan Před rokem +1

      @@nimashokouhfar52
      "Give me Affirmative Action money or I'll sue, white man."

  • @philippebrehier7386
    @philippebrehier7386 Před rokem +6

    In the race to get vital resources that are becoming scarcer, you unconsciously "choose" teams that accept you (because of common traits, sometimes transformed in identity parts/ego "crutches") and try to belong to the winning/surviving teams. And it's worsening because capitalism applied to almost everything, divide us in more numerous and smaller groups in a competition more difficult each year.

    • @philippebrehier7386
      @philippebrehier7386 Před rokem +4

      And I would like to add that the concept of hierarchy that imply that some (group of) people have more value than others is not helping to deal peacefully with political issues.

    • @bobmarley8644
      @bobmarley8644 Před rokem +2

      That's one of the dumpest things said in this entire comment section