rosierose_12345
New member
Hi - I've never posted on here before but have lurked a little. However, Grace's most recent story has tipped me over the edge a little bit.
What I find so uncomfortable about Grace's privilege is (apart from her inability to acknowledge it in any meaningful way) is how she twists the narrative to make her seem LESS privileged and therefore 'more relatable'.
This is how she should tell her story;
I'm white and I was born into wealth, my parents are not just 'middle class', they're millionaires. My parents had the money to send my sisters and I to a private girls school, costing £30,000 a year per child. I received a scholarship based on my musical ability, however, this only compensated for a small amount of my school fees. I secured an internship with IBM prior to University and whilst this was, in part, attributed to my academic ability, I recognise that I had access to high quality schooling, coaching and mentoring which others do not. I also recognise that I was lucky to have a family home in London, where I can afford to survive and even save money on an interns wage - many others may have been forced to turn down the internship due to financial and geographical considerations. I achieved a place at Oxford University, but once again, this was in part due to my schooling.
I have worked hard and have built three businesses. I'm currently writing a book about these businesses, which I take three days a week to write - again, a huge privilege as I know the creative arts is hugely underpaid and most writers work full time, as well as taking on freelance work. My book is about productivity, but it's important to acknowledge I've had a huge 'kick start' in life. What I have achieved, therefore, is not in reach for many others. So, whilst I enjoy talking about productivity, I'm committed to ensuring I address structural inequalities (e.g. through launching initiatives in her businesses to hire people from working class backgrounds?)
Of course, this is not to undermine my own personal struggles - like everyone else I'm human, I'm a young woman, I get burnt out, work can be hectic - but I recognise that I have a lot of luxuries to support me through these times, comparative to others.
But this is how she CHOOSES to tell her story;
I'm white, but I'm a woman. My parents are middle class. I received a scholarship and that's what allowed me to go to private school. My internship with IBM was a result of my hard work. I got a place at Oxford because I'm academic - I was almost kicked out in my first term because I couldn't afford the fees after a student finance error and that's what kick started me into business. (Does not acknowledge that this is a common student finance error which could have been resolved through phone calls or - if push came to shove - loaning money from her parents. There was no 'necessity' for her to sell her products, just opportunity).
I'm a full time CEO of two businesses in two days a week and a writer in three days a week and my days are so busy. I'm so tired from juggling this and writing my book that I have to take a holiday to Dubai. I'll talk about left wing politics and my sympathy for the working class but I'll do nothing to actually engage with this through my work or businesses, marketing my expensive products as 'affordable' and my book on productivity and success as almost £20 a pop (making it, therefore, inaccessible to working class people and completely failing to acknowledge that 7.1 million adults, usually from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, in England are functionally illiterate).
However, I'm committed to addressing my privilege by saying 'I'm privileged' every now and again, without making an effort to demonstrate any understanding of WHY I'm privileged.
Sorry a long post - but it really, really irks me. She is determined to fabricate a life filled with hardships and struggles, fundamentally undermining the lives of those who are genuinely disadvantaged. You should never twist or tailor the facts in an effort to appear relatable or as an 'underdog' to make your achievements appear more impressive. Grace should embrace her background, acknowledge it and move on. People aren't judging her for being rich or privileged (I don't think) - that's just her circumstance. They're frustrated because she tries to mask it. That's all.
What I find so uncomfortable about Grace's privilege is (apart from her inability to acknowledge it in any meaningful way) is how she twists the narrative to make her seem LESS privileged and therefore 'more relatable'.
This is how she should tell her story;
I'm white and I was born into wealth, my parents are not just 'middle class', they're millionaires. My parents had the money to send my sisters and I to a private girls school, costing £30,000 a year per child. I received a scholarship based on my musical ability, however, this only compensated for a small amount of my school fees. I secured an internship with IBM prior to University and whilst this was, in part, attributed to my academic ability, I recognise that I had access to high quality schooling, coaching and mentoring which others do not. I also recognise that I was lucky to have a family home in London, where I can afford to survive and even save money on an interns wage - many others may have been forced to turn down the internship due to financial and geographical considerations. I achieved a place at Oxford University, but once again, this was in part due to my schooling.
I have worked hard and have built three businesses. I'm currently writing a book about these businesses, which I take three days a week to write - again, a huge privilege as I know the creative arts is hugely underpaid and most writers work full time, as well as taking on freelance work. My book is about productivity, but it's important to acknowledge I've had a huge 'kick start' in life. What I have achieved, therefore, is not in reach for many others. So, whilst I enjoy talking about productivity, I'm committed to ensuring I address structural inequalities (e.g. through launching initiatives in her businesses to hire people from working class backgrounds?)
Of course, this is not to undermine my own personal struggles - like everyone else I'm human, I'm a young woman, I get burnt out, work can be hectic - but I recognise that I have a lot of luxuries to support me through these times, comparative to others.
But this is how she CHOOSES to tell her story;
I'm white, but I'm a woman. My parents are middle class. I received a scholarship and that's what allowed me to go to private school. My internship with IBM was a result of my hard work. I got a place at Oxford because I'm academic - I was almost kicked out in my first term because I couldn't afford the fees after a student finance error and that's what kick started me into business. (Does not acknowledge that this is a common student finance error which could have been resolved through phone calls or - if push came to shove - loaning money from her parents. There was no 'necessity' for her to sell her products, just opportunity).
I'm a full time CEO of two businesses in two days a week and a writer in three days a week and my days are so busy. I'm so tired from juggling this and writing my book that I have to take a holiday to Dubai. I'll talk about left wing politics and my sympathy for the working class but I'll do nothing to actually engage with this through my work or businesses, marketing my expensive products as 'affordable' and my book on productivity and success as almost £20 a pop (making it, therefore, inaccessible to working class people and completely failing to acknowledge that 7.1 million adults, usually from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds, in England are functionally illiterate).
However, I'm committed to addressing my privilege by saying 'I'm privileged' every now and again, without making an effort to demonstrate any understanding of WHY I'm privileged.
Sorry a long post - but it really, really irks me. She is determined to fabricate a life filled with hardships and struggles, fundamentally undermining the lives of those who are genuinely disadvantaged. You should never twist or tailor the facts in an effort to appear relatable or as an 'underdog' to make your achievements appear more impressive. Grace should embrace her background, acknowledge it and move on. People aren't judging her for being rich or privileged (I don't think) - that's just her circumstance. They're frustrated because she tries to mask it. That's all.
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and when they came all of the items ripped within 2 minutes of wearing them! No hate to the brand though I love supporting sustainable businesses and absolutely love grace too
