If you have not watched Shameless, then what are you doing here? I am not a fan of jumping on bandwagons. I actually despise doing it. When I first moved in last fall with my roommate, Shameless was all she watched. I sat down for it a couple of times, but never really paid much attention. It was not until the title kept popping up on my Twitter timeline that I decided to jump on the bandwagon...and I am so glad I did.
Once upon a time bipolar Monica and narcissist Frank fell in love and had six children. The six children all live in their dead aunt Ginger's house under the supervision of their oldest sister, Fiona, who raises them all. Aunt Ginger technically lives there too because Frank buried her in the backyard. Monica ditched the family a long time ago, but pops backs in occasionally, unwanted. Only do the children wish that she would take Frank with her when she disappears again. Frank comes and goes as he pleases, taking whatever it is that he wants or needs and does not bother to wonder how it will impact his children or their home.
Fiona, Ian, and Lip all work to help support each other and their younger siblings, Debbie, Carl, and Liam. Even with the three of them working, their financial needs are barely met. Especially when Monica and Frank pop in and decide to take everything their children have saved up.
Life is really tough for these kids. All they want is to have a "normal" family. Fiona has been taking care of her siblings since she was six years old. An emotional moment she shares in court while trying to adopt her siblings from her neglectful father. I do not want to really spoil anything, so let's just say that Fiona has many stories to prove Frank is not fit to be taking care of anyone...not eve himself.
So how does this family's situation relate to privilege, or should I say lack of privilege? Well, where would you like me to begin? I was blessed with parents who took care of me when I was a child. This family does not. My parents gave me financial support and sometimes still do. This family does not. I lived in a quiet neighborhood where our neighbors went to work, mowed their lawns, and lived their private lives. This family lives in a neighborhood of poverty, crime, and drugs. Something that the family gets involved with constantly.
Some will argue that who your parents are and where you come from does not have to determine who you will be and where you will go. I cannot deny that this is not true, but there is a lot more to it than just that. As this family tries to move on and better themselves, their reality pulls them back.
Why are you who you are? Why do you do the things you do? You are who you are because of who raised you. You are who you are because of the community you grew up in. There are all of these things that contribute to who we are and why we are who we are and it is completely out of our control.
See because of the community I was raised in and the color of my skin I have an advantage over some. Some people certainly have an advantage over me as well. AND THAT'S OKAY. Imagine your life had you been born into a different family or community. A wealthy family or a family in poverty. The streets of Chicago or in the mountains of Tennessee. Your life would be completely different.
There are some people who deny privilege is a real thing and I think that is just because they do not understand what privilege is. They think it is a shameful thing when really it is something shameless -- see what I did there? What is most important is that we identify our privilege. That we realize we have an advantage and that we can help those who do not.
