Male Privilege

[slackmaster]

71. That's correct, because though you may not have intended it that way, I read privilege as pejorative

As in the ill-gotten gains of a corporate fat cat or corrupt politician. That's how the term was generally used where I grew up, which happened to be La Jolla, California. My mom taught me a very important lesson while living there. She said:

"If you want to spot the biggest crook in town, just look for the man who drives the fanciest car and wears the most expensive clothes."

And she was right! We had J. David Dominelli, Ivan Boesky, C. Arnholt Smith, and several other famous robber barons in town at the time. Those men of "privilege" were considered scum by just about everyone who lived in San Diego because their "privilege" was attained by stealing from others. Privilege has always sounded like something bad to me, except in specific circumstances like "the driving privilege."

It's certainly true that men don't have to worry about being discriminated against in hiring because of their gender, but that isn't the problem - The problem is that women DO have to worry about it. The fact that you as (I presume) a woman have cause to be concerned about discrimination in pay is not the result of me as a man not having that problem. It's that way because employers tend to discriminate against women. BTW, I'm sure you are aware that in some states it's still perfectly legal to do that.

The condition described as male privilege is actually what should be the norm for everyone. The fix isn't taking privilege away from anyone, but extending to those who have had it withheld unfairly.