In the recent TikTok saga, a 17-year-old girl was shamed for calling her Charles and Keith (C&K) tote bag a luxury item.
Many people on TikTok mocked her ignorance for considering it a luxury brand, saying “Who’s going to tell her?” and saying it’s too much to call C&K a luxury brand even if she comes from a humble beginning.
However she later responded with another TikTok video addressing the comment of her haters, sharing that her family came to Singapore with little, to the point that buying bread from breadtalk would be a special, once-in-a-blue-moon occasion for them. Many things were a luxury to them when they moved to Singapore.
“Your comment spoke volume on how ignorant you seem because of your wealth,” she added in her video.
That statement got me to think and reflect on privilege.
I’m a little ashamed to admit that I would also not have thought of a C&K bag to be a luxury item. But I wouldn’t say that they are cheap—I would definitely think twice before buying a bag that is $80.
C&K is one of Singapore’s homegrown brands that found success in the international market. But not many of us (as seen in the TikTok comments) would consider it a luxury brand when there are brands like Dior, Gucci and Louis Vuitton with bags that can single handedly wipe out my bank account with great ease.
However, after hearing her open up about her life story, I began to realise that there are many things I have taken for granted.
When I was younger, McDonalds was a luxury. My parents would only bring me to McDonalds when it was a special occasion. My favourite was the cheeseburger (without pickles) and I would be so happy to eat it. And let’s not even talk about a Happy Meal—that was the ultimate treat!
But over time, buying a meal from McDonalds became a go-to supper meal when all shops are closed at the wee hours of the night. Buying a cheeseburger became the ‘budget’ option compared to other speciality burgers that the fast food chain had to offer. Things have really changed.
Someone once shared with me a conversation she had with a friend. They were talking about problems they face, like not having enough money during the holidays, when suddenly her friend said to her, “You know you are privileged right?”
Though the effects of those words probably shocked my friend more, I felt the ripples of those words as well.
Both of them were lamenting that they didn’t have money during the school holiday but the difference was that my friend came from a well-to-do family and received more pocket money from her parents.
Am I privileged? Do I know that I am privileged?
I didn’t realise that this topic could be a touchy one for some. And I didn’t realise that being privileged could often blind me to the many social and economic issues others are facing.
Privilege comes in many forms—wealth, race, physical looks, education, gender to name a few.
Many of us probably have grumbled about the inflation and GST hike. But Singapore has been ranked the world’s 5th wealthiest city in 2022 (Henley & Partners). To be fair, our ranking was probably influenced by the 249,800 millionaires living in Singapore. But many of us, though we are not millionaires, don’t have to worry about our three meals.
Don’t be fooled by the ranking though. There are still people in Singapore struggling to make ends meet. Perhaps we don’t hear much about such because we are not actively involved in such difficult conversations.
Singapore was also ranked 9th for Countries with the Best Educational Systems (2020 Global Citizens for Human Rights). Undeniably, the stress levels, the pressure to do well in academics, CCA, to get your life all figured out by you graduate Poly/Uni is scary and sometimes overwhelming.
But putting aside our grudges towards Singapore’s education system (there is no perfect system in the world), we can’t deny that Singapore does have one of the top education systems in the world. Many foreigners pay tens of thousands to send their children to study in Singapore and our universities are recognised internationally.
And while we may have expressed some form of displeasure towards the education system (I’m mostly talking about myself here), many of us are blessed to have parents who can afford to sign up for tuition classes, or even purchase the latest tech gadgets for us so that we can focus on learning and performing our best.
What has caused me to be blinded to these blessings I have?
American sociologist, Prof Michael Kimmel, puts it well in these words, “Privilege is invisible to those who have it.”
Going back to the TikTok video, the girl mentioned that she was so grateful to her dad as he was able to get her the bag only after working so hard for it.
For those who come from a place of privilege, it is harder to see the value in things.
For those who come from a place of privilege, it is harder to see the value in things.
I have been reflecting on how discontented I felt as I compared what I don’t have to what my friends have. I feel that I am often not content but quick to complain and point out the inconveniences in life because I am far too privileged than I realise.
Perhaps, this is something you can relate to.
If it is, I humbly encourage you to consider the question I’m about to ask.
Could we be living in our own bubble that we don’t see anything beyond our world?
Could we be living in our own bubble that we don’t see anything beyond our world?
I hope that the TikTok saga has opened your eyes to the reality of things in this world like it did for me.
Rather than gossipping about the latest drama as it unfolds before us, let us take every opportunity to reflect about ourselves and the world that we live in.
