for the privileged? (part 1)

Sustainability has somehow, always been linked to wealth. As reflected by the results of a survey I conducted a few weeks back, this idea seems to be fairly popular too, where when asked about the biggest barrier to switching to a sustainable lifestyle, the majority of the 68 respondents indicated expense as the key factor.

So just where did this concept come from?

Responses to ‘In your opinion, what is the most significant barrier in switching to a sustainable lifestyle, especially in Singapore?’ by 68 surveyees. [¹]

 

establishing the link

While the literal (and often premium) pricing of sustainable alternatives would definitely be a contributor in creating this idea, its significance has been seemingly overexaggerated by the misconception that one must obtain these products to live sustainably. In fact, for a lifestyle that encourages never buying more than necessary, this is rather contradictory. 

Instead, I believe that this concept stems not from cold, hard cash, but from the idea that those with more—the privileged—should do more. The modern-day equivalent of noblesse oblige perhaps? (There is also an argument here to be made about the shedding and pushing around of the burden of responsibility, but that’s for another day.)

So if that’s the case, how valid is it to then claim that living sustainably is reserved only for the privileged? 

To start, what even constitutes privilege? While the first thing that comes to mind might be the divide between the haves and the haves-nots, that’s not to say that that’s all there is to privilege. Realistically, any and every unearned benefit or advantage accorded to you can be (and probably is) a privilege. I believe that in the context of sustainability, it manifests itself in two main ways. Privilege enables, and privilege divides (to be covered in part 2).

 

privilege is enabling

There’s a theory called Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. First proposed by Abraham Maslow in 1943, it argues that all humans have certain needs, and they can be classified into five different tiers by their pressing importance. The needs at the bottom of the hierarchy must first be met before those higher up can be considered (although in 1987, Maslow amended that the ranking may not have been as fixed as he had originally proposed) (source). Often graphically organised into a pyramid, the hierarchy is as follows: physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualisation.

 

(source) [²]

 

While I could be making an assumption, I believe having the ability to care and act for something much greater than ourselves is in and of itself a privilege. It signals a situation where our most pressing, bottom-of-the-pyramid needs are able to take the backseat on the list of concerns in our mind, and we can instead think about ways to wipe our dirty tracks off the face of the planet.

So yes, following this train of thought, being privileged does matter. From having resources to obtain eco-alternatives, to having time for the upkeep of a sustainable lifestyle, these are all opportunities that are enabled by privilege. Privileges that I too share, and privileges that others with less may not have. However, at the same time, this thread demystifies privilege. Instead of an unobtainable and mystical treasure to be held only by the top elites in society, privilege perhaps may be ubiquitous. 

Well, I know for one that I have it, so where’s the manifestation of my ‘noblesse oblige’

 

 

 

[¹] As an edit suggested by Dr Coleman, I’ve also included the demographic of my surveyees below 🙂

[²] Mcleod, S. (2020, March 20). Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Simply Psychology. https://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html. Content is registered under CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license.

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