Truth is, I grew up in a middle-class Perth neighbourhood. Private school. The world handed out freebies to me like hors d’oeuvres on silver platters. I never experienced a violation or home break in. Each job opportunity came ‘serendipitously’ (as though I had manifested it. Ha!)

Yes, just an rich white girl who had the luxury of quitting her teaching job for a year of “life-enriching” travels to “see how poor brown people live” while drinking herself to oblivion at beach parties hosted by rich Americans. (Pretty sure we left all our trash on the beach, too.)

I got back from that trip claiming that I was cured after years of depression and hardship. Thank god I had the money to pay for my bypassed enlightenment.

Oh sure, I had a divorce in there somewhere. Depression. Repression. Lived and generational trauma. I learned to put myself back together like Humpty Dumpty. All on my own! (With a lot of support and money for therapy).

But come on. I had opportunity. Choices. Money. And luck – because I didn’t have an ingrained victim story to tear down my belief system.

We continue to favour the rich, white, straight, ‘normal’, and able.
FACT: We live in societies shaped by white colonial settlers, persistently favouring those who are white, straight, and able.

I can’t claim “I’m brown and underprivileged” because of my Italian migrant background. Because let’s face it: despite my dad’s enviable Calabrese tan, my family is white European and no longer a target of early twentieth century racism. Those market gardens and building empires of the 1950s rewrote any lingering poverty story.

FACT: Opportunity goes to the privileged, not the poor. And this machine is not designed to improve.

Let’s dissect this fully: Success creates more cycles of success. And hardship creates further cycles of hardship. That’s why so many rich white girls “manifest”.

The shadow side of white girl spirituality

These last two years have been big for me as I’ve squinted at the shadow side of white-girl appropriated spirituality. Draped in mala beads and breathwork courses, you’re an idiot if you haven’t manifested your dream life yet, white girl.

Truth is, manifestation is not easy when you’ve been a victim your whole life.

Victimhood doesn’t just go away when you’ve had a bit of success.

Victimhood can permeate deeply in the psyche, deeply in the cells, and can shadow the true nature of the spirit.

Victimhood, and the struggles that go with it, creates a palpable barrier to success.

Bridging the gap doesn’t always work

I’ve offered low-income options to my writing courses. It often doesn’t work. People either don’t take up the opportunity or they sabotage their success.

Beaten down already by “I’m not deserving”, the story of victimhood and struggle continues. Opportunities aren’t actually equal for everyone, even in abundant Western countries. Despite your chosen narrative.

Recognising this is informing my own writing and my business leadership in a whole new way.

It is much harder for someone in dire circumstances to have the same energy, hope, resilience, motivation, physical energy and mental energy to be able to take up an opportunity at 100% capacity.

Risk of failure? High.

So what to do, rich white girl?

This is a question that I sit with in these early days of my dream business – a dream business which I’ve worked tirelessly for but which could only be possible because of my privilege.

I can choose to hide away in shame at my past ignorance – because it is pretty shocking and embarrassing.

I can choose to get angry at the inequity and wallow in despair about how shit the world is.

I can choose to deny myself happiness and success because others don’t have it.

I can perpetuate a new victim story.

OR

(And there is a big OR)

I can choose to use my privilege for good.

I can choose to use my privilege for good.

I can get up and work my arse off and rise to create something a little bit better for our world.

I can be more mindful of the way that I shape and perpetuate colonial white-dominant narratives, through the way that I characterise myself, and the way that I create voices to defy this narrative.

SO

I seek to unify rather than separate. I seek to be sensitive. I seek to be constructive. I seek to educate myself. I seek to be positive change in a hierarchical world. I seek to create opportunity for others less privileged.

My goal is to create a community that can support and educate and enrich all people in living out their creative dreams.

Not just for over-privileged white girls.

I hope my heart-led mission works.

And you?

If you’re a privileged white straight able girl like me, living in an abundant country, moaning about your life, luck, and interest rate rises while booking your next Botox appointment…

Could you dream of doing things differently?

Could you grasp your privileges with both hands and use your gifts to nurture a world of peace, rather than one of divide?

This article was inspired by @emilyannebrant whose teachings on decolonisation are much needed in this world.