Czyzewska, MariaBaker-Hayes, Maret2021-06-022021-06-022021-05Baker-Hayes, M. (2021). Our nation's priorities: The role of privilege in the United States (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.https://hdl.handle.net/10877/13713This thesis is exploring social privilege, defined as the theory of special advantage or entitlement, used to one's own benefit or to the detriment of others, and how certain groups are inherently discriminated against. Coming from the perspective of the new generation, we are taught that in U.S. Society social injustice belongs to the past. While our country prides itself with its advancements of freedom and opportunity for all, there are numerous contemporary instances where all are not treated equally. The selected examples of such instances are addressed through analysis of primary sources such as video footage and direct documentation of various protests as well as secondary sources surrounding racial and class discrimination. The findings suggest that minority and lower socio-economic status groups are disproportionally confronted with violation of their civil rights and opportunity for advancement because of their lack of privilege in today's society. This thesis challenges the idea of equal opportunity in the United States whilst revealing the supposed true determiner of success: Privilege.Text48 pages1 file (.pdf)ensocial privilegeprivilegediscriminationmistreatmentwealth gapprotestsracismsocioeconomic statusHonors College