Quote:
Originally Posted by greatwhitenorthchick
No idea exactly what you two are blathering about, but I think I'm agreeing with Adder that not being "brought to heel" is a privilege. If I didn't have money, I'd probably have to get married -- it's very expensive to live as a single person. If I didn't have access to birth control/abortion etc., I'd probably have a kid. So living my life the way I want to (single, childfree) is achievable because I have money. Since men tend to have the easier path to accumulation of wealth, then there's some male privilege involved there in them being able to live the life they want.
Sebby, have you seen the "I will argue about anyone about anything" meme? I saw it over the weekend and thought of you. I would post it here, but I forget how and also I would probably mess up the margins.
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I just think this whole privilege recognition trend is a soft-headed endeavor. It's arbitrary laddering of people.
We all know life is not fair. Rupert Murdoch has a much easier existence than I do. In this regard, he's privileged above me. The plastic surgeon down the street is also privileged above me. I'm privileged above the garbage collector, my kid's teacher, etc. Who cares?
But let's put money aside. Let's talk freedom of speech. I'm licensed. If I do or say certain things, I can be sanctioned in ways the guy who owns the nearby flooring business cannot. Is he more privileged than me?
How about athletic ability. I can't dunk, or hit a fairway wood to save my ass. Are those who can more privileged than me? Magnus Carlson would kill me at chess! Privileged SOB...
In terms of intelligence, I'd like to be able to count cards, or do those equations in my head the way those kids who get jobs at Google can... Should they be required to empathize with me if I demand they recognize their privilege?
I'm not unhappy with my appearance. Do I have an obligation to understand the trials of those who are unhappy with theirs?
I've been told it's quite fine, but I mean... what man wouldn't want it a little bit bigger? (if you've met this man, stick with him.)
A Cuban buddy of mine can swing dance like he was born with the skill. I veer between looking like I'm rocking the "White Man's Overbite" to "Is my partner having a seizure?"
The metrics for privilege are too arbitrary for me to take it seriously except in this very obvious exception: If you're white, you've generally got advantages over other people due to the vestiges of racism and xenophobia in this country.
