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Though the article is really just about privilege, period.
And it engages in grand falsehoods to back its own conclusions.
"No white person was ever denied an opportunity simply because they were white."
Yes, there are white males out there who have been denied something only because they are "white". Affirmative action, for one, does this, but there is also just regular discrimination that occurs. And yes, white men are steryotyped and even discriminated against. Yes, I realize that there is a power differential and this doesn't happen often, but it does happen, and to deny it is rather silly to try and to fit a simple narrative of privilege. I mean, to say that no "insert giant group" has EVER been denied something is rather disingenuous.
I think it's simple enough to say that white heterosexual males, everything else being equal, have the most privileged race/sexual orientation/gender combo in the United States as a whole. I don't "admit" it, I know it as a fact. But the whole point of these articles is usally lost rather easily.
Everyone has privileges, some more than others, but everyone is not likely to consider the privileges they do have. That is what needs to be addressed. Most people, whatever color, gender, or sexual orientation, rarely, if ever think about their own privileges. I think most everyone is more likely to notice other's privileges when they themselves are disadvantaged, no doubt about that.
Also, the author applies the term "privilege" in pretty odd ways. For example, he talks about how women are generally labeled negatively while men are labeled positively by society for being promiscuous. His evidence that this attitude is widespread and staying strong? The internet. Is it a privilege to be seen as "more manly" if you have lots of sexual partners? Not really, unless your goal is to look manly to a part of the population that thinks that way.
Another example of male privilege, not having to worry about what you wear being commented on. And if you want people to comment on what you wear? Well, I guess you are a sick puppy, and certainly aren't receiving any sort of privilege, since, you know, no people like that exist. Do I think it is stupid that women celebrity's clothes are commented on by some media? I don't care about clothes much, or celebrities, so I guess, but most of the people interested in it and driving it are women anyways, so it's hard to see where this is a clear "privilege" that always cuts one way.
"If you are a man you will never know what it feels like to have to hide your sexual behaviour, or be considered to be "dirty" or rejected if you do not. Only women understand that."
No, I personally know of many straight men that hide their sexual behavior, because guess what, there are people out there who think men who have lots of promiscuous sex are not good people. Shocking, I know! And the worst part of the article, right here:
"If, however, you refuse to recognise that you are privileged, even when your colleagues and fellow citizens are patiently explaining it to you, then that is your fault. You do not have the luxury of denying other people their experiences."
Ah, but that is exactly what the author has already done, many times in his article! Hilarious! Not only denying others of their experiences, but proclaiming that such experiences don't exist! Ever! Wow.
Telling people what they can or cannot say to "minorities", yeah, that's the ticket. When what is needed is understanding and communication, you know, a dialogue, let's make this dialouge a lecture, and if you got a question? You better keep it to yourself. This kind of attitude is just fucking stupid. After all, "minorities" are always right about privilege, or at least you should assume they are, just because, you know, everyone interprets the world perfectly from their experiences.
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