Do you like the Beatles? Then, according to Dr. Adam Rodriguez, you may have “privilege” relating to the most famous music group of all time and your taste in music.

Dr. Rodriguez, who is “an Assistant Professor within the Clinical Psychology Department at Notre Dame de Namur University,” penned an article in the Huffington Post called, “How Can You Not Like The Beatles?”

He begins his article by explaining how he could never get into the Beatles and that he could only name a few of their songs. His friend, an avid fan, decided to burn Rodriguez a CD of their albums.



“After the first two albums, I found it simply was not for me,” Dr. Rodriguez writes. “I told him that the songs seemed fine, I just did not really like them all that much.” His friend was surprised.

Then it hit Dr. Rodriguez. His friend had Beatles “privilege.” According to Rodriguez, his friend is part of the “dominate group” of people who agree on an opinion.

“When one is a member of the dominant culture, that person enjoys particular power and privileges, including the freedom to not have to consider other perspectives,” he writes, continuing, “My friend has enjoyed the privilege of not having to consider that there are people in the world that don’t have the same relationship to music, food, art, or culture that he does. He has the privilege of not being forced to consider perspectives that are not his own.

“Here’s what my friend did not consider: He grew up a white middle-class male in the 70s and 80s, to parents who grew up on the Beatles and were immensely influenced by them and other rock and roll bands.”

In the end, Dr. Rodriguez urges his readers to realize that there is nothing wrong with someone who does not like the Beatles, and to check their Beatles privilege.

“Liking or not liking the Beatles cannot be assumed, and it certainly is not a character issue. It is influenced by a multitude of factors, including the cultural influences that I grew up with,” he explains.