Socio-Economic Privilege... What's it got to do with you?

For many generations, the idea of social class has been a significant topic that is relative to the link between power and privilege.  So, what is socio-economic privilege? Why is it relevant? How does it impact YOU? Well…

Socio-economic privilege is defined as “the benefit from one’s hierarchal standing within a society based on social identity, economic factors, and access to diverse forms of capital”.   A person’s level of social class is most often defined by their level of socio-economic privilege.

Some examples of socio-economic factors are: 

Income

Education

Social network

Occupation

A person with socio-economic privilege will often have easy access to all factors which defines them as being from a higher socio-economic level However, a person without socio-economic privilege may struggle to gain access to these factors which ultimately defines them as being from a lower socio-economic level. 

For example, a person who is from a lower socio-economic level may face difficulty in getting their children into, what are viewed as, the “best” schools, such as private schools.  This is because they may lack the income to pay for the “best” education which provides them the “best” resources.  They may also lack the ability to work around the system due to their lack of social network, as they are not surrounded by people who can allow access to resources that put them at the top.  They may lack the social network due to their lower paid job which may be due to their own lack of ability to access resources and good schools growing up, or due to a financial difficulty during their adult life. 

As you can see, lack of socio-economic privilege is often a vicious cycle that is difficult to escape.  The lack of privilege means that they are perceived with a lack of power, whereas a person with socio-economic privilege is seen as a higher power due to their status and the ability to access socio-economic factors. 

However, it is not completely black and white. Socio-economic privilege can often be a complex concept as it can look extremely different for everyone. For some, it may mean the ability to afford luxury goods, for others it may mean to be able to afford university fees… For some, it can even mean to simply have a roof over one’s head. 

Some examples of what socio-economic privilege may look like come from Wendy R Williams. Try and see if you can recognise any of these: 

• I do not worry about what I need or want to buy
• I do not worry about debt
• I can be as charitable or not as I choose
• I have easy access to university without the worry of debt
• I can often receive things I want by being charming
• I can live wherever I like, move when and wherever I choose and know that I will be welcomed there
• I am believed to be innocent by the criminal justice system at least until proven guilty
• If something I own breaks or gets lost, I can replace it easily 
• Entertainment is easily available to me 
• I can anticipate my retirement years without financial anxiety
• I do not need to worry about my children’s future as I can provide a good inheritance for them
• I have a seat at the table to make, influence, and have an impact on decisions, rules, and policies. 

Socio-economic privilege is just ONE of the many privileges that link to power… At Belonging Pioneers, we strive to delve into the impact of privilege in your workplace. 

So, how might socio-economic privilege be impacting your workplace?

-       27% of jobs in the UK require a university degree… which gives those who lack the socio-economic privilege to go to university a huge disadvantage. A degree does not necessarily define potential. 

-       Many employers favour job candidates who have a higher social status, which makes them more likely to achieve a job role. This lowers the representation level for lower social status’ employees and may inevitably drive them away from the workplace. 

-       Likewise, many employers favour candidates that they know already, therefore are already a part of the social network and have an easier journey into achieving the job.

-       Focussing on talent and work ethic is a much more successful approach for business growth than hiring a person due to their high social status. 

-       By lacking in representation of employees from lower socio-economic backgrounds amongst higher level corporate roles, the determination and desire of these employees who seek progress will decrease making their work less satisfactory which not only has an impact on their own reputations, but also has a huge impact on the business’ reputation. 

So, if you are interested in the way privilege impacts your workplace, or you simply want to have your say, please help us to help YOU. 

There is very little data on the use and impact of privilege and this survey is an important action that aims to capture accurate and representative insights into the use of privilege.

To join us in making a difference, take some time to fill out the survey linked below.