ArcheryAnnie
Completely agree with your post and the what the fuck moment when their privilege slides.
I've often wondered what it must feel like to walk through life as a man, without ever realising that you are reacted to on that basis.
I'm sure there are many women who don't realise their wholesale lack of privilege, in terms of things like walking down the street and moving out of the way. It just feels 'normal'. The natural deferring to a louder, more dominant voice, etc.
Sometimes, it's only when you have been told, or shown, that these things happen that you start to notice it.
And, as everyone knows, once seen...
And men simply don't have the equivalent of feminist forums, designed to redress the imbalance, to be informed of what their privilege looks like. They never get to hear about it.
And even if they are called out on their sexism, it still doesn't click. It feels normal.
DH was waiting to speak at an event. He was standing 'in the wings' next to a colleague who was going on first.
They were both waiting for another speaker to be introduced prior to their turn.
The speaker was changed at the last minute from a man to woman.
DH's colleague was pissed off that he was now to follow a woman. He made some comment along the lines of 'sloppy seconds'.
He genuinely thought that following a woman would give him a disadvantage (I'm still not quite sure how).
And to him, it felt obvious and 'normal'.
It's a very depressing thought.