Privilege

What makes a privilege?

Disabled people are often denied accommodations because of "privilege". Because of the concept of privilege. Working from home is a privilege.

Is having what you want a privilege? Always?

Is having what you need?

What if all that you want is what you need? Then, where is the line of "privilege"?

In my head, it's not a privilege to work from home but I know it's treated as such. It's something you "earn", it's based on seniority, etc. etc.

I'm thinking what makes it a privilege. Why is it seen as such?

And all I can think is because it's something someone wants.

Imagine that. To keep something from someone simply because it's something they want. Surely, that can't be enough. That can't be the reason. There has to be more.

But I wonder, if people didn't want it, if working in the office was what most desired, what they even made requests for, would work from home still be dangled over employees' heads? I don't know. I can't answer either way with certainty.

Would employers focus on the financial benefits of working from home, making it standard, and occasionally allow the privilege of sharing a space, using company resources, socialising in different ways, etc.? I don't know. They could.

Wants are often undervalued. They're far too degraded and I don't know why. Wants trace back to needs if you study them carefully. If you pay attention. Of course, you can't concede all wants, I understand the necessity of differentiating between the two to set priority. I less understand the complete lack of inspection once something has been deemed a want. Where is it coming from? Why do they want what they want?

A lot of people who enjoy working from home, prefer working from home, request working from home, etc. do so [presumably] without a disability. Even still, their expression of that desire is often stemming from a need, a need that optimises their function. Not necessarily their function as an employee, but their function as a human, and that optimisation will come through in all that they do. It will change environments and worlds. A lot of people are asking simply because they'd like to suffer less, struggle less, emotionally tire less in their day. "Simply" isn't to undermine the gravity of their reasoning, but to highlight the lack of a threat in their desires and motivations. Whether or not someone has a notable, recorded, DOL-recognised disability, a lot of people are simply asking Could you make it easier for me to do what you ask, to help you with what you need? Would you please allow me a life with more ease?

I don't know, it seems a lot of people are threatened by ease. There is a kind of fixation on struggle, harm, isn't there. How do we get through this? How do we tell people it's okay to allow someone ease.*

It's a projection of a lack of self-confidence, in some sense, as many things are. The idea that all must suffer beyond reason, with "beyond reason" referring to events such as heartbreak and grief. Mandating unnecessary difficulty and struggle, even creating it when it doesn't exist, suggests an inability to fully envision a world where people are okay and they're happy. Happiness is almost threatening, I guess. It suggests a personal experience with suffering, in fact, it suggests more than one, and it suggests an inability or refusal to see other options. It suggests an inability to see a way forward without the suffering of others or even oneself. It suggests a lack of imagination. A lack of creativity.

1 Lug 2024 00:03:16

*I'm reminded of something else I've been thinking on. Harm has very little use in this world. But this is something I'll come back to.

00:22:27

Would you allow yourself the honour of caring for me and granting me ease?

01:06:51

I've just realised it's the first day of Disability Pride Month. Hm.