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Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Very basic, obvious examples of male privilege please?

362 replies

tigersox · 18/06/2018 19:21

Examples every man will experience. Undeniable and obvious

I'm trying to make male privilege simple to a friend who feels us feminists have gone too far.

Thanks Grin

OP posts:
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8
FermatsTheorem · 18/06/2018 21:49

It's a minor, but informative one: the male newsreader who carried out a little experiment - he wore the same suit on air for a year. No-one even noticed.

heresyandwitchcraft · 18/06/2018 21:53

The ultimate male privilege is being able to deny it exists.

YourVagesty · 18/06/2018 21:55

Fermats your suggestion reminded me of the male and female colleagues who swapped email signatures and were both horrified by the gulf in their treatment from work contacts and clients:

www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/what-happened-when-a-man-signed-work-emails-using-a-female-name-for-a-week_us_58c2ce53e4b054a0ea6a4066

Kettlepotblackagain · 18/06/2018 21:57

Saying the same thing over and over to your husband/father/brother and not getting listened to.

Then another man says it and it's finally understood.

sashh · 18/06/2018 21:57

If you are attacked you will not be blamed regardless of the time of day and what you were wearing.

If you commit a crime you will probably get a lesser sentence#

You are never mistaken for a waitress, secretary or nurse at work.

Never being told to cheer up, show us your tits or wolf whistled.

Being spoken to in a car showroom when you are with someone of the opposite sex.

Not having to beg for a vasectomy because you, 'might change your mind'.

Automatically being named first on travel documents, bank accounts even forms you fill in all have 'Mr' first.

All cars, furniture and kitchens being built for your build. Train seats, the rails on the London underground, the steps at stations, all designed for men.

Having medicine designed for men and tested on men so that all new medical treatments are known to be safe.

Never saying something in a meeting, being ignored and then a man says the same thing and is listened to.

Never being expected to stay at home with a sick child.

Going on a blind date and worrying, 'is she fat?' not'will he rape me?'

Not having to treat every new encounter with someone of the opposite sex as a possible violent encounter.

Statistically rare to be killed by a partner or ex partner.

Earning more.

Wearing a school uniform with a shirt and tie to prepare you for the world of work, girls are forced to conform with this even though they will probably not wear a tie at work.

Clothes with pockets.

Male sport on TV - when did you see a women's football match on TV.

TV in general, most aimed at men.

The 'something for the dads' on light entertainment TV ie a pretty woman often with a much older man.

No matter how good a journalist is she will not get on TV if she is plain.

Never being forced to wear high heels as uniform.

If you get a job it is not assumed it is because of your sex. When the Canadian president announced his new cabinet was 50% female every woman on it was 'only there because she is a woman' the minister for health is a Dr with a Nobel prize and it is ignored.

Halfeatentoast · 18/06/2018 22:01

YourVagesty
Thanks for the clarification. Still shockingly recent. I'll read your link in a sec...

MimpiDreams · 18/06/2018 22:01

What really gets me is lack of equality in health care. I see it all the time. I ring up for an appointment, get one for 2 weeks time. DH rings up with similar symptoms and gets one the next day.

Then when we do get seen, DH is listened to, taken seriously and given treatment or a referral straight away. I get sent away with nothing but advice to rest/take paracetamol/get some fresh air etc and to come back in a week/fortnight if no improvement. Every fucking time.

YorkieDorkie · 18/06/2018 22:02

@heresyandwitchcraft spot on.

BiologyIsReal · 18/06/2018 22:02

Show me the men who has ever suffered from imposter syndrome

Freshprincess · 18/06/2018 22:03

Wow! I've just got the 'women present differently' symptoms thing. What happens to men is the standard, women are the deviation from it.

pombear · 18/06/2018 22:04

madja just wanted to recongise your experience, I know everyone's on here is valid, but that's just shit. Flowers

ThisisSparta · 18/06/2018 22:05

Women are judged in everything they do, be it how they feed their babies, what job they have, or don’t have, how they dress, what they eat, how they treat their friends and peers. Every single bastard thing!

Any leadership qualities, or even just standing up for yourself, is seen as bossy, aggressive, rude etc.

Ask him if he is walking alone at night would having an unknown woman behind him frighten him? Remind him that men are afraid women will laugh at them, women are afraid that men will kill them.

FreezerBird · 18/06/2018 22:08

Crash test dummies.

Serfisafleur · 18/06/2018 22:10

Being able to walk around without being told to "smile" or "cheer up".

Assuming you can order a woman to cheer up or smile.

Etymology23 · 18/06/2018 22:10

I was trying to explain the concept of “privilege” to a male friend and he didn’t really get it. A few minutes later I mentioned that women regularly get groped and cat called and he was like “no... doesn’t happen does it? I’ve never seen it” and I explained that That was his privilege. He didn’t even know it happened to women because his presence means it happens less. He was appalled to realise that I and most of my female friends had been assaulted.

OrlandaFuriosa · 18/06/2018 22:12

Commentary on Theresa May’s trousers, never on Boris’ or Macron’s.

Halfeatentoast · 18/06/2018 22:19

punch.photoshelter.com/image/I0000eHEXGJ_wImQ

This cartoon says it all

Timefortea99 · 18/06/2018 22:25

Commuting woes - manspreading and assuming that the arm rest is theirs.

Although the other day a friends son in his early 20s said it boiled his puss when other men sit near him and assume that the arm rest belongs to them. He is a tall well built guy but even he has noticed it.

I read on a thread here that to get people to move out of your way, walk with purpose and stare hard into the middle distance. It works. They may have to take a last minute step sideways, but something registers and they move. Walk like an Exocet!

Timefortea99 · 18/06/2018 22:27

Puss? Piss!

UpstartCrow · 18/06/2018 22:33

Being able to complain that feminism has gone 'too far' with a straight face, while women in DV shelters face losing their housing benefit.

HemanOrSheRa · 18/06/2018 22:36

I agree with the day to day safety. What do men do to keep themselves safe? What do women do? It's very different.

FermatsTheorem · 18/06/2018 22:39

Halfeaten I knew that was going to be Miss Triggs before I even clicked on it Grin

One of my favourite cartoons.

LemonysSnicket · 18/06/2018 22:40

Not being 23 and looked up and down even in professional situations and watching a blokes eyes change and knowing they will never speak to you as they do your male colleague.

SuperLoudPoppingAction · 18/06/2018 22:41

Tradespeople actually responding when you make contact

Your teacher assuming you might be good at/interested in maths, science, engineering

Benefiting from the pay gap

nocoolnamesleft · 18/06/2018 22:45

Language around sexuality.

Man:
Stud
Real man
Stallion
Player
Goer
Ladies' man
Lothario
Casanova

Woman:
Slut
Whore
Tramp
Prossie
Slag

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