Am I being too sensitive?

[PassAnotherGlass]

I have 2 DDs in secondary school. The school organised for someone to come in and talk about his work and the opportunities he had etc etc. At the end of the talk, he told them the main things that helped him get a job. 2 of them were being a white male. AIBU to think that, even if it’s true, he shouldn’t be saying that? Over half the students were female and not everyone was white (we are if it makes any difference). Fully prepared to be told that I’m being sensitive.

I do see your point. It's difficult to judge out of context. He might have been acknowledging the privilege he personally felt, which undoubtedly exists in many roles.

The danger i guess is inadvertently passing the perception to the next generation rather than working to break the cycle. For that reason, I wouldn't have gone there.

Thinking about it, I'm in a minority group for more than one reason and although it's never held me back, it's not something which I really dwell on as I think it could create self limiting behaviours.

It's good that he acknowledges the privilege he has, the school need to do some work around this to give it some context and help the next generation do something about it.

How did he say it? Was he acknowledging his white male privilege?

I expect he was acknowledging his white male privilege in a rueful way and you’ve missed the point. Or your kids have missed the point and not translated it too well to you when telling you about it.

Sorry @Elbeagle I piggybacked your point by mistake x

I think it comes down to context.

I'd rather he acknowledged his good fortune than was one of those arseholes who thinks that his achievements are all his own.
Hopefully led on to discussions about creating a fairer and more equal society.

Context is important but it’s also refreshing at he’s acknowledged his good fortune and why rather than get defensive and deny his white male privilege has helped him like many do.

He sounds like an idiot. So do other people who harp on about white male priviledge.

Maybe telling them to study hard and put in the effort at school to achieve the needed qualifications for desired job may have been a more helpful response.

Im sure the many white unemployed males got the shock of their lives when they didnt get that GP job they applied for with their 3 'D' grade GCSE'S.

I can just hear the dissapointment in their voice 'but im a white privileged male, I was told that would get me the job'?

Yep, personal choice and hard work (or lack of) has nothing to do with which job people get.

Great careers talk.

He sounds like an idiot. So do other people who harp on about white male priviledge.

It must taken one to know one. You really should inform yourself.

It sounds like he was just discussing his privilege, ie: that being a) White & b) Male are two things that have will likely have given him a leg-up in the job market, and in his life in general. I say well done to him for taking the opportunity to ackniwledge & discuss it

I don't understand why people get so bloody offended when told they have benefited from privilege. It's not saying that your life has been easy, it's simply recognising the fact that there are certain hurdles in life that you don't have to jump (such as racism, sexism, homophobia, class discrimination, etc) compared to others.

I'm white, so I don't have to deal with the racist bullshit that some of my friends do. That's privilege.