The social and economical benefits, advantages and/or immunities that all urban
people benefit from on a daily basis. Urban privilege is often ignored, it exists without conscious
knowledge of its presence and it helps to maintain the socioeconomic hierarchy in this
country.
Even the most economically disadvantaged
people in an urban environment are better off, have more opportunities, and have an easier
life than the economically disadvantaged from rural areas, specifically the Appalachian region.
Urbanites, even the
poor ALL benefit from the collective wealth of the individuals within the urban center that they live. Because NYC has wealthy individuals, they were able to build and maintain cheap public transportation (buses or subway). Even the poorest individuals in these communities can move about freely and cheaply. Whereas, rural poverty never receives such benefits because there is no collective wealth or individual wealth.
Additional urban privilege includes the
internet, healthier food, diversity, education, healthcare, criminal
justice, woman's rights, housing standards, and even recreational activities.
Perhaps the largest injustice with urban privilege is the lack of media attention rural poverty receives compared to urban poverty. Urbanites often commute from middle/high-income suburbs into urban
work centers, they pass and see urban poverty daily. Meanwhile, rural poverty goes unnoticed or ignored because no one has to see it on a consistent basis (if ever).
