Nearly every time privilege and marginalisation come up in conversation, someone inevitably chimes in with “Why all the labelling?” or “Can’t we all just be human?”
I get why people are defensive. From an early age, many of us are taught that labelling people is unfair, that it means making assumptions or judging them. But here’s what often gets missed: terms like privileged and marginalised are not about assigning personal value or character. They are about people’s lived experiences.
Privilege and Marginalisation are about Systems, not Individuals
Being privileged in a certain area doesn’t mean you’ve never struggled. It doesn’t mean you’re a bad person. It simply means that, in that area of life, the system is designed to work in your favour, often in ways you may not even notice.
For example, as a person without a physical disability, I can take public transport without worrying about whether there’s step-free access, whether the bus driver will refuse to lower the ramp, or whether there’s a working lift at the train station. I can walk into almost any café, workplace, or public building and reasonably expect to get in without hassle. Many people with physical disabilities cannot.
Because of this systemic disadvantage, disability activists push for accessible transport, workplaces, and public spaces. Not because they’re ‘making everything about disability,’ but because the world is not designed with them in mind.
On the other hand, as a Black person, I experience marginalisation in ways that people who are not Black often don’t have to think about. When I walk into a shop, I sometimes have to wonder:
- Will security follow me around?
- Will I be assumed to be stealing?
- If I wear a hoodie, will I be seen as a threat?
- If an argument escalates, will someone call the police? If they do, how will the officers treat me?
Many White people, and even some mixed/Brown skinned people, have the privilege of not having to consider these things. Yes, We Are All Human—But That’s Not the Full Story
A common pushback to discussions on privilege and marginalisation is “But we’re all human, shouldn’t that be enough?” While it sounds nice, this argument ignores the reality that our society does not treat all humans equally.
Saying “we’re all human” doesn’t erase the fact that:
- Women still face gender-based pay gaps, harassment, and underrepresentation in leadership.
- LGBTQ+ individuals are still fighting for rights, safety, and social acceptance in many places.
- Ethnically diverse people still face racial profiling, discrimination, and microaggressions in workplaces and public spaces.
- People with disabilities are still excluded from employment, transport, and public spaces due to inaccessible environments.
When someone insists on avoiding labels, what they’re really doing is avoiding accountability. They are dismissing the reality that systems privilege some groups while oppressing others. And by shutting down conversations about privilege, they are maintaining the status quo, whether they mean to or not.
Using these terms helps us push for change
If we refuse to acknowledge who is disadvantaged in our society, how do we expect to fix those disadvantages?
When we use terms like privileged and marginalised, we are not making accusations. We are identifying who holds power in certain situations and who is left out of opportunities. This helps us:
- Address systemic inequalities rather than pretend they don’t exist.
- Advocate for fairer policies, workplace practices, and social change.
- Encourage those with privilege to use it in ways that create equity.
So, if you find yourself tempted to dismiss these terms as ‘divisive’, ask yourself: who benefits from silence?
Because ignoring privilege doesn’t make it disappear, it just makes it harder to challenge.
And if you truly believe in fairness, equity, and justice, then recognising privilege isn’t a threat. It’s an opportunity.