A trans man lists some kinds of privilege he noticed he had after he transitioned – 25 of them to be exact, and he says he could have listed lots more.
I was being treated better by everyday America because people were reading me as a young, white, straight (?!) male. And I recognized many new privileges that came my way because of it.
For the record, this isn’t an article meant for transphobic people to share around and say, “See?! See?! Trans guys are totally reaping all the benefits of patriarchy, and WE MUST HATE THEM!”
If you think this is true, you’re not paying attention. And clearly haven’t educated yourself appropriately on trans issues. Or patriarchal issues. Or feminist issues. Or really any issue that has to do with inequality based upon this toxic culture of ours.
Rather, this article is simply meant to focus on male privilege at large, primarily owned by cis men who think they’re bestowing it only upon other cis men.
Most cultures are toxic in this way.
1. I’m Suddenly Funny
I’ve always been dry, sarcastic, and satirical with my humor.
In Ye Olden Times, I was considered unfunny at best – and a bitch at worst.
Now that I’m a short white guy, people automatically peg me for a comedian and laugh at the bulk of my mouth zings.
And yet…I know so many men who aren’t funny at all. That stereotype seems to have passed me by.
3. I Rarely Get Interrupted
I used to be interrupted so often while presenting as a woman that I in turn started to talk over people as a form of conversational survival.
Unfortunately, because it became so ingrained in me, I still find myself doing it from time to time even though it’s rarely necessary anymore.
Well, you know how it is…women never have anything to say worth listening to, so might as well save time.
11. I’m Not Told by Strangers (Or Anybody Else) to Smile
Not once has it happened since.
Not once.
Envy.
14. I’m Allowed to Grow Old
And likely will even be considered “handsome” or “sophisticated” because of it.
Ha. Haha. Hahahahahahaha.
Yeah.
19. I Can Be a Gamer Without Worry of Being Threatened, Insulted, or Demeaned
The gaming industry is still very much a man’s world.
Female characters are frequently sexualized, brutalized, and demeaned when they’re represented at all – right along with the female gamers themselves.
One he doesn’t mention – he gets to see people like him (men) in movies and on tv all the time. Women have to search, and settle for the odd character and the rare few minutes.
Having been treated as both a man and a woman, these privileges are glaringly obvious to me. And there are far, far too many to count.
To those of you who aren’t surprised by the stuff on this list, share it with someone who will be. And if you in turn never fathomed these everyday issues before, reflect on why that is.
But most importantly, speak out about it.
Yes do.
Comments
12 responses to “Suddenly funny”
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry:
it makes for good joke but who knows if there is anything to it.
There’s a lot of BS among human beings no matter what the “gender.”
I had an online conversation with a trans woman that presented the other side. She talked about the dramatic change in the way she was treated after she started to present female in professional settings.
Some portion of which takes the form of internet trolling.
I look forward to Anonymous’s observation that all lives matter.
Goodbye, Ophelia.
Further to SC#1 & SamBarge#3,
‘Gee, that Ben Barres’ work is so much better than his sister’s.’
About a decade ago, as a PhD student, I was perusing either Science or Nature for a relevant research article, and happened to come upon a piece which was an interview with scientist Ben Barre, and also a trans woman science researcher (unfortunately I do not recall her name, and cannot find the original article). Each had transitioned during their science career, and was commenting on how they felt they were now being treated differently by their peers as a consequence.
The trans woman had conducted paradigm-shattering research as a man, and then again as a transwoman. As a man, she had received congratulations on her ability and achievement when communicating her groundbreaking analysis/research, but as a woman she experienced being shouted over by angry male colleagues.
Ben Barres story is also very revealing, as hinted at above. One interview with him is here:
http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=2494452&page=1&singlePage=true
Goodbye, Anonymous 2015.
teslalivia –
So I did a search here and found this post from 2010, Hearing from Tiresias.
From that I gather that the woman is Joan Roughgarden, formerly Jonathan. My source was the Wall Street Journal.
Hmm. Google the two names together and you get a bunch of interesting results.
Like this, for instance:
http://www.smh.com.au/national/how-the-sex-bias-prevails-20100514-v4mv.html