This afternoon, in my 2 and half hour long Comparative Politics class, our professor made a comment about how flawed the Social Sciences and Math Building was due to its lack of coffee. My university has about 11 places on campus where you can grab food/coffee but all of them are at least a 3 minute walk from the Social Sciences & Math building, the Business/Economics building and a few other buildings with a huge cluster of students.
As the conversation continued, a student said "first world problems". Another said "exactly, it's not like we have to walk miles to get drinking water" and I'm thinking "wtf". What's with ridiculous white people thinking that the global south is this monolithic existence where everyone is suffering? It's so condescending. Yes, I'm Nigerian and some of my people face disease and poverty, but some of us also worry about our ipods, cars, fancy jewelry, the newest phones, etc. What the hell do most 'first world people' know about 'third world problems'? You do know that some people in the 'third world' have the same problems as those in the 'first world', right? Here's a first world problem, the fact that you have such ignorant views about the global south?
I have to admit, I also use the 'first world problems' phrase
. But I use in direct relation to my experiences living in the global south. "Omg, I have to choose between a McDouble and grilled ranch snack wrap at McDonalds. First world problems" I didn't have to do some mundane thinking over fast food in Nigeria cos fast food in Nigeria is very different than North America. I don't know if that's the best example to illustrate my point, but it's the best I could come up with right now. I admit that I am speaking as a person who was raised in a middle class family.
All I want is for people who love the phrase "first world problems" to understand that a monolithic experience does not characterize the "3rd world". Just like the global north (there's poverty here too, duh), there are many kinds of people with different socio-economic backgrounds and a 'first world problem' or 'third world problem' label doesn't apply to everyone. You'd think this was obvious, but it unfortunately isn't.
TL;DR: Ignorantly using the phrase 'first world problems' ignores the existence of people in the 'third world' who are relatively financially well-off. If you weren't too ignorant, you'd probably know about them. Also, it assumes that everyone in the 'first world' enjoys the same luxuries. It's not a geographical distinction, but a socioeconomic one.
#educateyourself
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| Umm, yeah, there are poor kids in Canada too! |
As the conversation continued, a student said "first world problems". Another said "exactly, it's not like we have to walk miles to get drinking water" and I'm thinking "wtf". What's with ridiculous white people thinking that the global south is this monolithic existence where everyone is suffering? It's so condescending. Yes, I'm Nigerian and some of my people face disease and poverty, but some of us also worry about our ipods, cars, fancy jewelry, the newest phones, etc. What the hell do most 'first world people' know about 'third world problems'? You do know that some people in the 'third world' have the same problems as those in the 'first world', right? Here's a first world problem, the fact that you have such ignorant views about the global south?
I have to admit, I also use the 'first world problems' phrase
. But I use in direct relation to my experiences living in the global south. "Omg, I have to choose between a McDouble and grilled ranch snack wrap at McDonalds. First world problems" I didn't have to do some mundane thinking over fast food in Nigeria cos fast food in Nigeria is very different than North America. I don't know if that's the best example to illustrate my point, but it's the best I could come up with right now. I admit that I am speaking as a person who was raised in a middle class family.
All I want is for people who love the phrase "first world problems" to understand that a monolithic experience does not characterize the "3rd world". Just like the global north (there's poverty here too, duh), there are many kinds of people with different socio-economic backgrounds and a 'first world problem' or 'third world problem' label doesn't apply to everyone. You'd think this was obvious, but it unfortunately isn't.
TL;DR: Ignorantly using the phrase 'first world problems' ignores the existence of people in the 'third world' who are relatively financially well-off. If you weren't too ignorant, you'd probably know about them. Also, it assumes that everyone in the 'first world' enjoys the same luxuries. It's not a geographical distinction, but a socioeconomic one.
#educateyourself
