CBA Record July-August 2023

to profess. They bend the rules to suit their purposes and motivations. Look around you and see what is occur ring in your workplace and organization. You will find that the abuse of power is present. It is masked with an explanation of why the actors do what they do or dis guised with an apology without rescind ing their actions. Most often, it is evident by the repetitive conduct of promoting those they feel will advance their agendas. As people trained to spot issues based on facts and circumstances, we may have to go “old law school” and remember IRAC (Issue, Rule, Application, Conclusion). First, identify the issue of entitlement and privilege at play. Next, determine if the actors are playing by the rules or making up their own to achieve personal gains. Then, as a proponent of inclusion and equity, call these folks out or build a plan to limit their misuse of privilege and offset their belief that they are entitled to have it their way. Finally, calculate how these harmful acts can impact the over all culture and seek out colleagues to join you in responding. While we are being challenged to make the macro changes we need in our world, we can encourage ourselves to defy and confront the entitled and privileged to move them to use their positions for good. We have an obligation in the world of social media (and in-person) to bark once, twice, or incessantly when we see the misuse of entitlement and privilege. Remember, history will judge, but our futures will change only if we take control of what we see and let the world know that the days of entitlement and privilege are over, unless those realities benefit all and do not perpetuate success for a few. As a futurist, I plan on barking incessantly and loudly. How to Vanquish the Misuse of Entitlement and Privilege

HISTORY WILL JUDGE

BY NINA FAIN Entitlement and Privilege: What Do You See? C artoons and cartoonists are an integral part of journalism’s port folio. Often, they describe and

be the harbinger of bias displayed by indi viduals who are tone-deaf about how they conduct themselves without regard for others and proceed through life applying their own standards of right and wrong without understanding the impact of what they do or the resentment they cause or the distrust they engender. Privileged individuals expect their double standard to be accepted without question based on who they think they are and what they perceive as their righteous needs. Often cloaked in other discriminatory and biased behavior, like gender orienta tion discrimination, sexual harassment, and blind ambition, entitlement and privilege underpin how these individu als display and abuse their power. These behaviors harmonize with a lack of trans parency in decision-making and disregard for established rules and policies, and often serve as the “tell” of the entitled and privileged class. Psychologists and psychiatrists label these behaviors as narcissistic. Yet the truth is that many know what they are doing and disregard what is right. The entitled and privileged misuse their roles to promote their singular agendas with the expectation that regardless of how they make others feel, others must accept the privileged and entitled behavior with out objection. Whether they act in macro steps (e.g., defy the constraints of ethical behavior), or reject other people’s gender realities, or in micro steps (e.g., appoint ing unqualified people to positions of leadership or recalibrating decisions made by those who they deem less worthy), the abuse of privilege alienates the objectives of inclusivity and engagement they claim

explore the reality of the day with humor, irony, and accuracy. Recently I came across a “Speed Bump” cartoon by Dave Coverly, portraying a modern-day herald ing of Paul Revere’s ride. The balloon caption over the head of the protagonist, a dog leaning across a fence, reads, “If you see a car, bark once; if you see a squirrel bark twice; if you are not certain what you see, bark incessantly and an operator will assist you.” In our diverse world, most of us think we know racism and hate when we see it. In recent times, many people have stepped up to bark once or twice. But the more nuanced existence of entitlement and privilege should call us to action; we are often uncertain whether we should bark incessantly because we do not know what we see. As I reflect on the experiences of my life, I have come to recognize that we must sound the alarm not just on what we can see and distinguish as hate and dis crimination but also on the more subtle and pervasive realm of entitlement and privilege. What is privilege? What is enti tlement? And how do these poison pills manifest themselves in businesses, com munities, organizations, and workplaces? Entitlement and Privilege Entitlement can be defined as a strong sense that one deserves favorable and differential treatment. It, along with its traveling com panion, privilege, is the mine’s canary for the people in the places we frequent. Privilege, although more visible, can

Nina Fain is counsel to the JS Schirn Family Trust and serves as CBA Treasurer, Co-Chair of the DICE Committee, and is a CBA Record Editorial Board member.

48 July/August 2023