¹Becky: noun, adjective – A Becky is a caricature of all the worst examples of ignorance and privilege. A Becky thinks the world is exactly how Becky sees it, and can’t recognize or identify the perspective of someone different than she is. Becky thinks white, middle class, hetero, cis, able-bodied. red-blooded American is the default. “Becky’s” origins are somewhat obscure, but she probably started from the Becky in Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” video, in which Becky was a participant in criticism of a black woman’s body. Becky also appeared as a sock-puppet (a fake or deceptive account in an internet community) on the site Jezebel.com, as a way to satirically address the “privilege factor.” Becky was aimed at commenters who often overlooked certain experiences of other commenters’ perspectives (specifically regarding race, power, class, etc.) Becky has since become somewhat of an internet code word, describing the privilege that often comes along with discussions of race, gender, ethnicity-etc.

Becky is also not a word that describes only those who are ignorant of their privilege – it describes a way of thinking. It is a way of thinking that despite great education, open-mindedness, certain financial security, world traveling, etc., there is still a worldview that has not evolved, is actually incredibly closed-minded and is also “victim related.” A Becky will get defensive if you call her out on her white, cis, or class privilege. A Becky believes that we are post-racial and that POC just need stop bringing it up or that her white, immigrant ancestors struggled so why couldn’t yours? A Becky is upset when you call her out on her ignorance towards racial, gender, and class perspectives. A Becky thinks it’s unfair to talk about racism without talking about racism towards whites. A Becky acknowledges white guilt and prescribes the remedy as donating to a charity once a year or buying a pair of Tom’s shoes. A Becky is white, hetero-normative, middle to upper class centric and therefore projects this “normalcy” onto all people and just wishes they would pull themselves up by their bootstraps. A Becky likes her gay best friend accessory as just that. A Becky is a caricature of awareness and liberalism and after telling you she voted for Obama, she’ll tell you she just doesn’t understand why Hispanic girls have to be so loud!

Beckys are not born, they are made and they are well accepted in most walks of society.

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It Gets Racial Sometimes: A Gal’s Guide To Breaking Down Your Privilege