Fatherhood Privilege Walk

In thinking about Father’s Day, below is an assignment I work on with my students when thinking about families and privilege. Please add on in comments, if you would like.

Directions:

Participants should stand should-to-shoulder in a room:

• Take one step forward if you live in the same house with your children.
• Take one step back if someone ever asked you where you got your child.
• Take one step back if you do not live in the same country as your children.
• Take one step back if you’ve ever been thanked for babysitting your child.
• Take one step forward if you never had to compare the cost of diapers.
• Take one step forward if you were able to hear your child’s first words.
• Take one step back if you ever had to choose not eat so your child could eat.
• Take one step forward if people have smiled at you while you were in a store with your child.
• Take one step back if you have ever had to explain to your child why you were mistakenly accused of a crime because of your race.
• Take one step forward if you can choose to work from home sometimes when your child is sick.
• Take one step back that you sometimes worry in a custody battle that you would have no legal right to your child.
• Take one step forward if you taught your child how to drive, danced at their wedding, or waved good-bye when they went to college.
• Take one step forward if you tell your child they can be anything they want and you believe it.