What’s “Privilege”?

A question was asked at the BHT about the definition of “privilege” in a sociocultural context.  I thought for a minute, and then wrote down this definition:

“Privilege” is having social capital, on the basis of conformity or having easy access to the accepted, often dysconscious norms of dominant society.

I thought I’d break it down here quickly:

• “social capital” - “capital,” of course, is being used analogously.  I’m referring to a person’s status and value in a culture as perceived by the dominant culture itself.  As an example, which will help us with the discussion on race (and class): Does an urban black man have as much social capital (is he as readily accepted) as a suburbian white businessman?
• “conformity and having easy access to” - Education is a good example here.  The “acceptable” way to think and speak is codified in standardized educational materials; this “way” is already easily accessed by the folks who already think and speak that way (which makes sense, as it was codified by the same sorts of people).  Others, who do not, start worlds behind the others in schools, are told their way of speaking is wrong (not different…and don’t get me started on the white response to Black Vernacular English), and that they have to change (rather than being told it’s different, and let’s build a bridge from there to the way someone in an interview might expect you to talk).  These folks do not have easy access to, nor are they taught reasonable ways to access, the dominant discourse.
• “dysconscious norms of dominant society” - The stuff we just accept as normal, as “just the way things are,” without even thinking about it.