My husband just accidentally explained male privilege.

[SimonBridges]

Please enjoy this analogy. He’s a lovely chap really but didn’t get my point.

DH is very tall. I am very short.
When we walk anywhere he strides on ahead. I am trotting along trying to keep up. Because he is in front of me he moves to the middle of the pavement meaning that I have to walk behind him going at the very limit of my walking speed just to keep up.

Today he said to me ‘why are you always three paces behind me?’
To which I replied ‘no, the question is why are you three paces in front’.

He didn’t understand.

[Ereshkigal]

[Iamagreyhoundhearmeroar]

I don’t understand either. He walks faster because he’s taller, is that it?

[SoftSheen]

You need a scooter.

[LaContessaDiPlump]

To him, op is lagging behind.

To op, he is racing ahead and making her run to catch up.

OP explained her perspective to him. He did not understand how her perspective could differ from his own.

Lo, 'tis male privilege.

[UpstartCrow]

Just think when you two have kids you'll look like a row of ducks.

[SimonBridges]

Well yes.
His physical male privilege is that he is taller and has a faster walking speed. I’m struggling to keep up and he is wondering why I am behind.

Rather like women in the work place. We are conditioned to behave in certain ways a have physical situation, like pregnancy, that keep us behind and unable to keep up. Meanwhile the men just keep striding along not realising that we are running just to keep up. Then they wonder women don’t just work a bit harder to close the gap rather than acknowledging that they have had a easier run of it.

[SturdyEarmuffs]

I like that analogy 👍

[LastOneDancing]

So...

His biological traits give him a natural advantage.
He assumes his DW should be able to match the pace he sets, despite having different attributes.
And assumes his pace is the correct one.

Did I get it right?!

[LastOneDancing]

Bah! Cross post.
Close enough though!

[RaininSummer]

This is a great way way to explain it isnt it?

[Jupiter9]

Tell him to walk slower

[ThisIsTheNational]

[FrayedHem]

Just think when you two have kids you'll look like a row of ducks.

[Voice0fReason]

It is a good analogy. It's a shame he didn't get it!

[SimonBridges]

I do tell him to walk slower, but that’s not the point I am making.

[thebewilderness]

Speeding ahead is rude enough but moving to the center is a male dominance display.

[Margaurette]

Excellent way of explaining it!

I hope he's worked it out now...

[SimonBridges]

I like being short and dumpy being referred to as ‘different attributes’.

[saniner]

I like this analogy a lot. Makes sense.

[Jupiter9]

Okay walk faster yourself

[Leobynature]

Yes this is male privilege. And also white privilege! if the only disadvantage in your life you can refer to is your height and your husband asking you to walk faster you lead a very blessed life indeed.

[Jupiter9]

Tie his ankles together.

[thebewilderness]

Leobynature
What prompted you to assume one or both of them are white.

[SimonBridges]

Okay walk faster yourself

This is the point. I can’t walk any faster. I am going the quickest I can go. This is my point. The question shouldn’t be what cab women do to keep up with men but what can men do to make sure women aren’t left behind.

[SimonBridges]

What? It’s an analogy. It’s not the only problem in my life, I just thought it was a nice analogy and I wanted to share it.