General Discussion

hifiguy

(33,688 posts)

7. A certain type of white men have it great.

Tue Mar 27, 2012, 11:41 AM

Mar 2012

Those from middle-class or higher socioeconomic backgrounds.

I am a white man of middle years from a very working class background. Made it through state university with all the honors I could win and graduated from law school with the FLOTUS as one of my classmates. Most of the last 20+ years I have made a subsistence level wage or somewhat higher. The average income for my classmates in private practice is somewhere in the mid six figures and my best friend in law school makes $3-4M per year.

My working class background together with what I much later discovered to be my Asperger's characteristics kept me from ever getting anywhere in my chosen profession.

In the first interview I ever had with a law firm (for a summer clerkship after first year) I was asked point blank whether my friends were mainly people I knew before I went to college or people I met in college. I was, shall we say, gobsmacked. I didn't get the job offer either.

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White Men Rule [View all] redqueen Mar 2012 OP

Yawn Elric Mar 2012 #1

Sleepy? drm604 Mar 2012 #2

Just needs some time to get up to speed.... daleanime Mar 2012 #6

Yes. With the fish. 2ndAmForComputers Apr 2012 #178

What a well reasoned response. Thanks for participating el_bryanto Mar 2012 #5

Simple Elric Mar 2012 #9

Well I'm a white male and I can tell you that White Male privilege exists. el_bryanto Mar 2012 #13

+1 ellisonz Mar 2012 #26

Of course you wouldn't. That's kind of the whole point. Hugabear Mar 2012 #34

Exactly. Well said. Zorra Mar 2012 #36

Well said! Spazito Apr 2012 #140

We often interpret a thing to better validate our own biases and prejudices. LanternWaste Mar 2012 #41

Who said anything about work? Rex Mar 2012 #55

Being white is not a privilege siligut Mar 2012 #73

Exactly! n/t 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2012 #79

And they make the laws... butterfly77 Mar 2012 #105

Clear. Concise. Succinct. Number23 Apr 2012 #173

Perhaps you should consider ... 1StrongBlackMan Mar 2012 #78

You clearly aren't in touch with the white experience. joshcryer Mar 2012 #115

Then you haven't spent a minute BlueToTheBone Mar 2012 #123

You know what you can do? Fawke Em Apr 2012 #181

Wow, pulling out the old socks? Rex Apr 2012 #194

White privilege absolutely exists. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #24

+1. Yes, it does. polly7 Mar 2012 #119

Really? News to me. Darth_Kitten Apr 2012 #182

Ofc Dokkie Apr 2012 #199

Yes loyalsister Apr 2012 #196

My dog said he heard someone whistling over here. Iggo Mar 2012 #59

Why do advertisers try to make us look stupid? badtoworse Mar 2012 #3

Advertisers make everyone look stupid. Don't buy their crap. Nothing's that necessary needs an Ad. freshwest Mar 2012 #18

Because maybe "we" have a sense of humor? caseymoz Mar 2012 #37

i cannot tell you how many men embrace the stupid tv guy as an excuse not to seabeyond Mar 2012 #40

I haven't heard one guy, ever, caseymoz Mar 2012 #112

Try? They make us look like morans. Rex Mar 2012 #57

Rich, w.a.s.p. men rule. MrSlayer Mar 2012 #4

Brilliant comment Mosaic Mar 2012 #27

Exactly aspieextrodinare Apr 2012 #198

A certain type of white men have it great. hifiguy Mar 2012 #7

That is part of white privilege though el_bryanto Mar 2012 #12

At the really high-flying levels it's a class thing hifiguy Mar 2012 #15

I just want to make sure CLASS is not mentioned here. *Totally* irrelevant! nt Romulox Mar 2012 #8

Hmmmm. So you don't want us to talk about class? I wonder why not? n/t el_bryanto Mar 2012 #10

I suspect Romulox was being hifiguy Mar 2012 #11

Indeed. As this thread begins to reveal, we don't even seem to have the vocabulary Romulox Mar 2012 #21

What vocabulary would we need? That we currently lack? el_bryanto Mar 2012 #67

Read the thread. People are telling us that CEOs and Senators "prove" the extent of privilege... Romulox Mar 2012 #83

Hmmmm. But it is both a class and a race issue. Are you denying White Male Privilege? el_bryanto Mar 2012 #108

I dont usually agree with Romulox, HOWEVER, if given a choice between being a stevenleser Mar 2012 #116

Thank you for your excellent contributions to this thread. Romulox Mar 2012 #117

Chris Rock would disagree Number23 Apr 2012 #174

Im a big fan. But does he really think that or is it part of the act? stevenleser Apr 2012 #175

Ted Koppel did a story a few years ago where he asked several white people if they Number23 Apr 2012 #179

We're talking past each other... stevenleser Apr 2012 #189

No, we're not talking past each other Number23 Apr 2012 #193

"Money is not everything and never has been. Dignity means alot to people too." redqueen Apr 2012 #195

Thank you, much. Number23 Apr 2012 #197

I knew this stuff wouldn't be obvious to everyone. redqueen Apr 2012 #176

Yep. It is bad. Welcome to my world Number23 Apr 2012 #180

Sheeeeit... I've had this crap going on in my own family my whole life. redqueen Apr 2012 #186

Short answer to your question is no. Romulox Mar 2012 #118

I'm from a working/lower class background. I received my A.B. from a "Public Ivy." amandabeech Apr 2012 #168

Agree 100% deutsey Apr 2012 #190

Believe me, I hear you. amandabeech Apr 2012 #191

+1 HiPointDem Apr 2012 #138

I call it the repuke kindergarden blocks theory... Javaman Mar 2012 #14

Excuse me now... -..__... Mar 2012 #16

You could do that el_bryanto Mar 2012 #19

Not as easy as laughing at your response. -..__... Mar 2012 #20

You're right - that is pretty easy. n/t el_bryanto Mar 2012 #63

I imagine that a wee bit of reflection on the editorial in question LanternWaste Mar 2012 #42

Yeah, I'm a white male too.. Upton Mar 2012 #69

why so many white men like me can be found whining about how tough it is to be a white man: arcane1 Mar 2012 #17

+1! RufusTFirefly Mar 2012 #22

i am sad to say, a lot of us women are helping these men out. letting them off the hook and feeling seabeyond Mar 2012 #28

Exactly right Aerows Mar 2012 #45

"by almost any metric... a pretty sweet deal to start out life as a white male" lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #23

Don't even pretend that life as a white male Aerows Mar 2012 #48

It's more complicated than that... MellowDem Mar 2012 #60

It depends on where you are Aerows Mar 2012 #64

I think privilege depends on a ton of factors... MellowDem Mar 2012 #72

It's still class-based jeff47 Apr 2012 #144

Being white is, in aggregate, an advantage. Being male is not. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #82

White women are *sent* to college? By whom? HiPointDem Apr 2012 #139

By a ratio of 3:2, women are sent by society. Specificially, the women's educational equity program. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2012 #147

No, it's not the definition of institutional sexism. When something is institutionalized it means HiPointDem Apr 2012 #149

Sure it is. Laws dictating preferential treatment by gender is institutional sexism. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2012 #162

Is teaching majority female because of affirmative action? Doubtful. HiPointDem Apr 2012 #164

It is a self-reinforcing cycle. lumberjack_jeff Apr 2012 #165

When boys were more likely to go to college in the 40s & 50s, most primary teachers were HiPointDem Apr 2012 #166

They are probably doing "poorly" due to their own efforts. Darth_Kitten Apr 2012 #184

I would think it impossible to reconcile these two views: lumberjack_jeff Apr 2012 #185

Class, in the economic sense, is just as big a deal hifiguy Mar 2012 #62

No arguments there Aerows Mar 2012 #66

How, in any stretch of the imagination, could someone whine 'how tough white men have it? chrisa Mar 2012 #128

Men should be the first in line to push the equal rights amendment. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #130

Because poor white men do have it tough. jeff47 Apr 2012 #146

My problem with this kind of analysis... MellowDem Mar 2012 #25

I'm guessing that the author of ths piece knows a lot of successful white guys Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #31

It's "blame the white guys tourettes". lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #32

I'm a white male and I don't deny I have privilege in this country... ellisonz Mar 2012 #29

You are better than many in this thread then Aerows Mar 2012 #50

The impression I get... ellisonz Mar 2012 #58

All white men are "guaranteed to get on base"? Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #30

Ask everyone of them Aerows Mar 2012 #51

Ask them if they'd rather be rich than poor... MellowDem Mar 2012 #68

Of course there isn't just one privilege JonLP24 Apr 2012 #161

As An African American Male, I Don't Think That All White Men Have It Easy in America Yavin4 Mar 2012 #33

It's more a class issue than a race issue. Nye Bevan Mar 2012 #35

That's because even white women are at a big disadvantage to most males Cleita Mar 2012 #43

Bingo Aerows Mar 2012 #52

Measured how? lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #106

You have to ask? Cleita Mar 2012 #113

a) People don't get paid for "their level of education". They get paid for what they do. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #120

Really? I would love for a woman to run against my Cleita Mar 2012 #121

Unless that Black Kid from the two Black Attorney Parents Is Wearing A Hoodie Yavin4 Mar 2012 #56

I agree... MellowDem Mar 2012 #38

Being white is a clear advantage. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #39

And you are 11X more likely to be more wealthy Aerows Mar 2012 #54

Gibberish. lumberjack_jeff Mar 2012 #84

Are you saying that women commit violent crimes at the same rates as men wickerwoman Apr 2012 #167

K&R. It's sad more people won't recognize the reality of white privilege. BlueIris Mar 2012 #44

Amen Taverner Mar 2012 #88

Why women dont run for office ErikJ Mar 2012 #46

Difficult to argue against the editorial as the instances of getting... LanternWaste Mar 2012 #47

I got a $271 speeding ticket the other day.. Upton Mar 2012 #49

You can afford to pay it right... ellisonz Mar 2012 #71

That's not my point.. Upton Mar 2012 #77

That is the point... ellisonz Mar 2012 #81

I don't live in the Bay Area anymore... Upton Mar 2012 #85

You really don't get it... ellisonz Mar 2012 #93

White women are more likely to be unemployed than black women. Is that because they HiPointDem Apr 2012 #145

I imagine the odds are greater that, all other being equal... LanternWaste Mar 2012 #100

Interesting. The last time I got pulled over by a cop, MineralMan Apr 2012 #141

For most guys, privilege does not compute. caseymoz Mar 2012 #53

Minorities may be at a disadvantage, but one bright side could be that Jamaal510 Mar 2012 #61

But, If you don't have a job and you're not rich, blame yourself ErikJ Mar 2012 #90

I do not appreciate being marginalized DaveJ Mar 2012 #65

White male privilege is real... MellowDem Mar 2012 #70

It's kind of a pity that what you refer to as "Sophisticated Character" el_bryanto Mar 2012 #76

I find that the white guys with the self esteem issue mentioned in the OP, are those JoePhilly Mar 2012 #74

Half of white men working full-time in 2007 made less than $50K. Are you saying that if they just HiPointDem Apr 2012 #143

Don't think I said that at all .... but nice try. JoePhilly Apr 2012 #155

Thanks for the anecdotes, but the fact is that half of white men make less than $50K, and in the HiPointDem Apr 2012 #156

And? JoePhilly Apr 2012 #157

Some white men apparently disagree, and seem to believe that they are an oppressed Zorra Mar 2012 #75

I suspect the author has never been married slackmaster Mar 2012 #80

"Stoop to conquer" is still stooping nt Taverner Mar 2012 #87

Actually that does touch on a real phenomenon RZM Mar 2012 #91

DAYUM! That's a keeper!!! Taverner Mar 2012 #86

As a white male... MellowDem Mar 2012 #89

As someone who is also a white male, I think its spot on Taverner Mar 2012 #92

Saying that being a white male... MellowDem Mar 2012 #94

Sure, white male privege doesn't work EVERY time, but it works enough to make a difference Taverner Mar 2012 #95

No doubt... MellowDem Mar 2012 #96

Um, you're comparing apples to oranges Taverner Mar 2012 #98

Not at all... MellowDem Mar 2012 #122

Seems more accurate to say that Straight, White, Christian, Upperclass Males rule. stevenleser Mar 2012 #97

Nope - even poor, undereducated whites get privleges minorities don't Taverner Mar 2012 #99

I disagree. stevenleser Mar 2012 #101

Are we trying to get a taxi in NYC? Taverner Mar 2012 #103

Yes I am. You are aware that a poor person cannot even afford a taxi, right? nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #109

Doesn't matter Taverner Mar 2012 #110

I'm not white. nt stevenleser Mar 2012 #111

You are correct sir. hifiguy Mar 2012 #104

My dad was a white Medical doctor ErikJ Mar 2012 #107

Not in the area of wealth He loved Big Brother Apr 2012 #137

Thanks for posting that. nt redqueen Mar 2012 #124

Thanks for that vid. He loved Big Brother Apr 2012 #136

But White men have highest suicide rate ErikJ Mar 2012 #102

Fuck Herman Cain. n/t ellisonz Mar 2012 #114

Try sellin' this shit to white men in most parts of Appalachia* didact Mar 2012 #125

lol At "men's rights" groups. What a load of crap. chrisa Mar 2012 #126

I hope you saw the recent SPLC reports on those groups. redqueen Mar 2012 #127

I'll just imagine. I think I already know. chrisa Mar 2012 #129

Post removed Post removed Mar 2012 #131

This is exactly what drives white working-class men away from the Democratic party eek MD Mar 2012 #132

Only certain types of white men. I wonder what drives this kind of reaction. redqueen Mar 2012 #133

There are many kinds of privilege. A white middle class woman about equals a poor white man stevenleser Mar 2012 #134

It's not about "getting it".... eek MD Mar 2012 #135

+1 I'd add that harping on white male privilege while the Democratic Party accedes to policies HiPointDem Apr 2012 #148

I'd go one farther: the singular focus on race is often pushed by corporate, "New" Democrats Romulox Apr 2012 #151

Agreed. Not only a diversion, but a good way to keep people isolated in their own little HiPointDem Apr 2012 #152

yup, that was my whole point in this thread bart95 Apr 2012 #177

Fuck yes. Union Scribe Apr 2012 #159

BS to your second paragraph treestar Apr 2012 #183

Of course it's not about shame or guilt redqueen Apr 2012 #187

Which types of men are those? HiPointDem Apr 2012 #150

The ones who don't understand the concept of privilege, redqueen Apr 2012 #153

Circular. HiPointDem Apr 2012 #154

"I wonder what drives this kind of reaction" Union Scribe Apr 2012 #158

Most who fought for worker's rights were white men Kaleva Apr 2012 #142

"He's a white male with hair, Lemon. The sky's the limit." Shrek Apr 2012 #160

Black men dominate the NBA dmallind Apr 2012 #163

THose NBA players were chosen by white males uponit7771 Apr 2012 #171

Those white men chose the players who would make them the most money. whoawhat Apr 2012 #188

Not only white, but witty, intelligent, dashingly handsome & not bald. Warren DeMontague Apr 2012 #169

Not these two white men - walking in park, while being white=dead. Zax2me Apr 2012 #170

shhhh...nt Skip Intro Apr 2012 #172

Post removed Post removed Apr 2012 #192