"Mo" Privilege
Gender "privilege " is a difficult subject to write about.
First of all, I am going to get to Connie's comment:
First of all, I am going to get to Connie's comment:
Well, had you had male privilege, I imagine your haircut would have cost at least half of what it did!
Trans privilege? That may be an oxymoron. However, hard work and effort, along with some smarts, can get one more advantages than can any privilege alone. For those of us who are mtf, at least we have the advantage of knowing what male privilege can really offer (and it's not necessarily all that women might imagine it to be)."
Trans privilege? That may be an oxymoron. However, hard work and effort, along with some smarts, can get one more advantages than can any privilege alone. For those of us who are mtf, at least we have the advantage of knowing what male privilege can really offer (and it's not necessarily all that women might imagine it to be)."
You are right about the price! And, speaking of price, the State of Ohio just repealed it's very discriminatory "Pink Tax", which added tax on feminine hygiene items as well as other items used almost exclusively by women.
I have always used an over simplification of male privilege. To me, privilege among men exists mainly from strength, looks, material possessions and/or athletic prowess. Possess one of the tour and you have a better chance of an easier life among your peers.
As easy as that sounds (or doesn't), all is not what it seems. Until you walk the proverbial mile in one gender or the other's shoes, you don't know how many football players would rather wear a cheerleader's uniform or how many powerful men would rather be a soft woman.
Knowing "Mo" Privilege is often not as easy as it seems.
Not to make your over-simplification too complex, but I would add intelligence to your list. I assume, too, that you are referring to physical strength, as strength of character is a whole other discussion. It seems, though, that your definition of privilege here is among men, and not necessarily about men having privilege over women.
ReplyDeleteNot that I agree it's right, but I think that good-looks render more privilege than do anything else for both men and women. This transfers over to trans men and women, as well. Beyond that - where strength (physical or otherwise), material possessions, athleticism, and intelligence are concerned - women have traditionally been expected to take a back seat to men. A physically beautiful woman has often had to dumb-down any of those other qualities that she may possess, so as not to bruise a man's ego. In this, she would be considered another of a man's possessions that would grant him even more privilege.
Things are changing, albeit slowly. I feel fortunate to be able to transition in a more-accepting world. More than that, though, I know that I am better able to transition into the woman I want to be; that being a strong woman. As a man, I always felt a bit embarrassed by my male privilege, as if I didn't really deserve it. As a woman, I believe I am as capable as any man, and I deserve every right that a man may have. It's too bad, though, that I waited so long to reach this point in my life, as age has reduced my good-looks privilege. ;-)