General Discussion

MellowDem

(5,018 posts)

94. Saying that being a white male...

Tue Mar 27, 2012, 02:55 PM

Mar 2012

is like playing T-ball and insures you'll get on base. That's not true in all situations.

It seems to ignore all the other privileges out there, of which there are many, that can have even greater impacts on a persons life than their race and gender.

I agree with the point that being a white male, all other things being equal, will generally be the race/gender combo to get you the most advantages.

But how much advantage each individual derives from such privileges vary widely, and certainly don't alone insure that you'll do well.
Many white males are disadvantaged in other ways, and telling them they are privileged in this way seems the least effective means of getting them to see their privilege. And not acknowledging that white males can have less privilege in other ways is a great way to not get them to become allies.

The thing is, many white males aren't part of the privileged class. And the sooner they see that, the better. The sooner they understand how privilege works against them, the sooner they'll be willing to admit the privileges they do have afforded to them.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

199 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

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