ARTICLE: People Are Sharing Privileges Average Americans Don't Even Realize And It's Enlightening

On Monday, Reddit user u/IStanPegasus asked, "What do people not realize is a privilege?" People provided some super-interesting examples about things that Americans might not even realize are privileges.

Here's what they shared:

1."The ability to actually be a kid when young. It's heartbreaking how many children have to grow up/are hardened before they even hit puberty."

—u/fibagik

2."Drinkable tap water."

—u/pitt20

3."Having a safe place to sleep. I'm very privileged to have a safe place to live, and I understood it more since the start of the pandemic. Not having a safe, stable, comfortable home has to be hell when you are on lockdown."

—u/ClauMoir

Photographer, Basak Gurbuz Derma / Getty Images

4."Having a body where everything works properly."

—u/edpmis02

5."Having emotionally, financially stable parents that care about and support you."

—u/SolarisIX

6."Buying groceries without having to carefully consider prices."

—u/Apxm

Images By Tang Ming Tung / Getty Images

7."Hot showers. They're the best thing ever, and everyone takes them for granted."

—u/TheLegendofMikeHawk

8."A guaranteed next meal. Food insecurity is terrifying. I have been fortunate that coming from a poor family, I always had food. Thinking of all the kids who were out of school due to COVID that were on free and reduced meals breaks my heart."

—u/Danobing

9."Having a car: I've noticed that in the US, even poor people have cars. Here, in Venezuela, it is pretty damn expensive to have and maintain a car, and there's no credit option."

—u/Agile_Objective_2252

Westend61 / Getty Images/Westend61

10."Having a phone: There's rarely an American without a phone."

—u/Agile_Objective_2252

11."Some places in the South of the US might relate, but you do not get BUGS, BUGS, EVERYWHERE, like other places."

Philippe Turpin / Getty Images/Photononstop RF

12."Free K–12 education and literacy in general."

—u/Greentea503

13."Easy ability to travel internationally. The right passport will take you places."

—u/Xerxes2004

14."Pretty privilege. I was denied so many opportunities (in performances) in high school because multiple teachers all just said, 'People don't want to look at you.'"

—u/swagmain

15."Honestly, living life without any form of mental illness. It’s becoming less and less common, but a lot of the people that do don’t realize just how lucky they are."

—u/SmolAnxiousSprinkle

And lastly:

16."Being vaccinated. People from underdeveloped countries like mine have people dying from preventable disease. My moms mother crossed a war zone after a devastating earthquake so my mom could get a smallpox vaccine."

—u/NoAd3629