Those who are not cisgender are encouraged to skip Part One of the exercise and focus on Part Two, the general privilege checklist. If you finish before others, use your additional time for free journaling. When the group re-gathers for discussion, you do not need to disclose your gender or gender identity or that you skipped that part of the exercise.

Place a check by each question you answer as true or mostly true.

Part One: Cisgender Privilege

1. Most of the time, I can find a public restroom to use without fear of verbal abuse, physical intimidation, or arrest.

2. I can use public facilities such as gym locker rooms and store changing rooms without stares, fear, or anxiety.

3. Strangers don’t assume they can ask me what my genitals look like or how I have sex.

4. My validity as a man/woman/human is not based on how much surgery I’ve had or how well I “pass” as non-transgender.

5. I can walk through the world and generally blend-in, not being constantly stared or gawked at, whispered about, pointed at, or laughed at because my gender expression does not match others’ perceptions of my gender.

6. I can access gender exclusive spaces (for men or women) such as the Michigan Womyn’s Music Festival, Greek Life, or Take Back the Night and not be excluded due to being transgender.

7. Strangers call me by the name I provide, and don’t ask what my “real name” [birth name] is and then assume that they have a right to call me by that name.

8. My family or friends do not persist in calling me my “real name” [birth name].

9. I can reasonably assume that my ability to acquire a job, rent an apartment, or secure a loan will not be denied because of my gender identity/expression.

10. I can flirt, engage in courtship, or form a relationship and not fear that my biological status may be cause for rejection or attack, nor will it cause my partner to question their sexual orientation.

11. If I end up in the emergency room, I do not have to worry that my gender will keep me from receiving appropriate treatment, or that all my medical issues will be seen as caused or linked to my gender.

12. My identity is not considered a mental pathology (“gender identity disorder” in the DSM IV) by the psychological and medical establishments.

13. I do not worry about being placed in a sex-segregated detention center, holding facility, jail or prison that is incongruent with my gender.

14. I am not profiled on the street as a sex worker because of my gender expression.

15. I am not required to undergo an extensive psychological evaluation in order to receive basic medical care.

16. I do not have to defend my right to be a part of the queer or LGB movements, and gays and lesbians will not try to exclude me from “their” equal rights movement because of my gender identity (or any equality movement, including feminist rights).

17. If I am murdered (or have any crime committed against me), my gender expression will not be used as a justification for my murder (“trans panic”) nor as a reason to coddle the perpetrators.

18. I can easily find role models and mentors to emulate who share my identity.

19. Hollywood accurately depicts people of my gender in films and television and does not solely make my identity the focus of a dramatic storyline, or the punchline for a joke.

20. I can assume that everyone I encounter will understand my identity, and not think I am confused, misled, or hell bound when I reveal it to them.

21. I can purchase clothes that match my gender identity without being refused service/mocked by staff or questioned about my genitals.

22. I can purchase shoes that fit my gender expression without having to order them in special sizes or asking someone to custom-make them.

23. No stranger checking my identification or driver’s license will ever insult or glare at me because my name or declared sex does not match the sex they believe I am based on my gender expression.

24. I can reasonably assume that I will not be denied services at a hospital, bank, or other institution because the staff does not believe the gender marker on my ID card matches my gender identity.

25. My gender is included as an option on standard forms.

26. I can check a box on a form without someone disagreeing, and telling me not to lie. Yes, this happens.

27. I do not fear interactions with police officers due to my gender identity.

28. I can go to places with friends on a whim knowing there will always be bathrooms there I can use.

29. I don’t have to convince my parents of my true gender and/or must earn my parents’ and siblings’ love and respect all over again.

30. I don’t have to remind my extended family over and over to use the correct gender pronouns when they are speaking to me or referring to me with others (e.g., after transitioning).

31. I don’t have to deal with old photographs that did not reflect who I truly am.

32. I know that if I’m dating someone, they aren’t just looking to satisfy a curiosity or kink pertaining to my gender identity (e.g., the “novelty” of having sex with a transperson).

33. I can easily go through security to board a commercial airplane because my identification matches my gender, and my body shows up correctly on the body scanners.

34. I can join a team to play an organized sport without being questioned over my gender or debating whether my gender gives me an advantage over other players.

35. If I fall in love with someone, I do not have to worry that my gender or gender identity will cause them to reject me or place a burden on us forming a relationship because of the way others (strangers, friends, and family) consider or judge us.

This document is adapted from one available through the State University of New York which provides educational documents and information through its Open Access Policy: “SUNY's open access policy aims to increase access to scholarship while respecting and protecting ownership rights. Open access includes scholarly and creative works that are typically free or low cost and available online in a timely manner.”

The original document can be found here: https://www.suny.edu/media/SUNY/Content-Assets/Documents/spectrum/prese…

Part Two: Understanding Other Forms of Privilege

For each question where you. For every step where you can claim a privilege or would take a step forward, add 1 point. Calculate your total at the end of the 35 questions.

1. My parents worked nights and weekends and/or multiple jobs to support our family.
2. I have never been diagnosed as having a physical or mental illness/disability.

3. The primary language spoken in my household growing up was English.
4. My family of origin was supportive of my dreams and goals.
5. I have never needed to try and change my speech or mannerisms to gain credibility with strangers, coworkers, classmates, or others.
6. I can visit any region in my home country and easily find the kinds of hair products I need and/or cosmetics that match my skin color.
7. I was never embarrassed about my clothes, my house, or the family car when I was growing up.
8. If I make a mistake, my behavior is not used to attribute flaws to my entire racial or gender group.
9. I can legally marry the person I love and know that our marriage will be accepted no matter where in the world we visit.
10. I was born in my home country, and no one has ever questioned my citizenship because of the way I look, speak, or eat.
11. I have never been divorced.
12. My parents were never divorced.
13. I always had adequate access to healthy food when I was growing up.
14. I am reasonably certain I would be hired for a job based on my ability or qualifications.
15. I never worry about calling the police when trouble occurs.
16. When I need to, I can easily visit a doctor.
17. I feel very comfortable sharing my emotions in public.
18. I have never been the only person of my race/gender/socio-economic status/ sexual orientation in a classroom or workplace setting.
I did not need to take out loans for post-high school education.
19. I did need to take out loans for my post-high school education, but I was able to easily find a job that allowed me the financial resources to repay them without impacting my ability to participate in other life activities like getting married, buying a home, or having a child.
20. I never had to work while attending high school or college to support myself or help support my parent and siblings. If I worked, it was because I chose to work.
21. My religious holidays are often a public holiday.
22. My company provides me time off for my religious holidays that are not public holidays.
23. I feel comfortable walking home alone at night in the neighborhood I can afford to live in currently.
24. I have traveled to countries outside of my home country.
25. My racial group, sexual orientation group, gender group, and/or disability group is represented in the media and entertainment industries at a level representative of the entire population.
26. My racial group, sexual orientation group, gender group, and/or disability group is represented when awards are given in the media, entertainment fields (Academy Awards, Emmys, Grammy’s etc.) or my specific industry.
27. If I am going through a time of financial hardship, my family (parents, others) would have the resources to help or support me.
28. I have never been bullied for something I cannot change about myself.
29. There were more than fifty books in my home when I was growing up, or we had access to books on a reading device.
30. My culture or the history of my ancestors is included in elementary and higher level social studies or history classes, and that history is told in a respectful and historically accurate way.
31. My parents or guardians all attended and most graduated from college or university.
32. My family went on vacations when I was a child, and not just trips to visit family.
33. When I wanted/needed new clothes, shoes, or school supplies as a child or youth, my family could afford to buy them.
34. If I want new clothes, I can buy them.
35. If I want to go out to dinner, I can afford it.
36. My parents were never laid off or fired when I was a child.
37. I have never been uncomfortable about a joke, comment, or statement I have heard related to my race, ethnicity, gender, appearance, or sexual orientation and felt unsafe to confront the person saying it.
38. No one has ever questioned my or my family’s right to participate in the wider community based on our gender, sexuality, race, bodily or mental ability, economic status, language, or perceived status as an immigrant or citizen.
39. When I was a child, my family could support my participation in sports, musical lessons, camps, or field trips without sacrificing to afford it.
40. I have never been the only person of my race in a room.
41. I have never been mocked for my accent or the accent of my parents or guardians.
42. I have never been told I am the exception and am attractive “for my race,” “for my sexual orientation,” or “for my gender.”
43. I have never been called or addressed using a slur based on my race, gender, or sexuality.
44. Strangers do not ask to touch my hair or clothes, asking if they are real.
45. I have never had to come out and announce my gender or sexuality, asking others for their acceptance.
46. I have never been kicked out of a church or religious setting because of my gender or sexuality.
47. I have never been kicked out of a church or religious setting because of my child or another close family member’s gender or sexuality.
48. I have never been told my sexuality is just a phase, and if I am bisexual or pansexual, I have never been told that my sexuality is just a stepping stone to coming out as gay or lesbian.
49. I know that my salary reflects my full contributions to the company and is not reduced because of my race, gender, or sexuality.

Total Checkmarks in Part 1: ________

Total Checkmarks in Part 2: ________

Part 1 of this document is adapted from one available through the State University of New York which provides educational documents and information through its Open Access Policy: “SUNY's open access policy aims to increase access to scholarship while respecting and protecting ownership rights. Open access includes scholarly and creative works that are typically free or low cost and available online in a timely manner.”

The original document can be found here. https://www.suny.edu/media/SUNY/Content-Assets/Documents/spectrum/prese…

Part Two of this exercise is based on a well-known poll from BuzzFeed and other similar resources. You can find other versions at Buzzfeed (https://www.buzzfeed.com/regajha/how-privileged-are-you) or through The Employee Engagement Group (How-Priveleged-Are-You-Quiz[97].pdf)

If you would like to learn more about how to navigate through your own privilege, we recommend this article from Very Well Mind (https://www.verywellmind.com/how-to-navigate-your-own-privilege-5076057) as a place to begin.

If you would like to learn more about implicit bias, we recommend the Harvard Implicit Bias Test (https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/takeatest.html) or the Loyola Marymount Implicit Bias Initiative (https://resources.lmu.edu/dei/initiativesprograms/implicitbiasinitiative/whatisimplicitbias/testyourimplicitbias-implicitassociationtestiat/).