I am L. I write this blog, Editorializing the Editors.
This is a feminist blog.
I talk back, and sometimes I’m rude. Often, I’m kind. In any case, my astrological profile says I’m inconsistent and difficult to pin down. I take pride in this.
Here’s something a misogynist said about me: “You’re a very difficult person to get along with. I think you’re interesting and intelligent, but I can’t handle it.”
We don’t talk anymore, that dude and I. Take heed.
What about me?
My privileges:
- white (in a mostly white community)
- United States citizen
- heterosexual
- cisgendered female
- “average” body shape/size
- able-bodied
- single (never been married)
- no children
- mid-20s
- literate/computer-literate
- upper-middle-class
- high school graduate
- college grad and postgraduate
- oldest daughter of two in a “traditional” family
- strong relationship with most of my immediate and extended family
I will add to this list as more of my privileges become apparent to me.
I strive to acknowledge my position in the patriarchy continually so that I can unhypocritically point out others’ privilege and how it skews their perspectives, especially with regard to gender equality. Acknowledging my privilege also helps me hear people better and reframe my worldview to accommodate new information. I suggest you try it some time.
What about you?
Well, what about you?
If you are male or otherwise patriarchally privileged, you will likely be offended, offput, discomfitted, or otherwise made to feel unwelcome while reading these pages. That is not because I hate men or privileged people. I actually really like some men, including my father and the dude who writes at CivilSarcasm.com, as well as many privileged people. The reason you may feel uncomfortable here is that I am a feminist (more radical every day) who is fed up with the patriarchy, of which you are a beneficiary. This means that I feel absolutely no obligation to make you feel better about yourself if you are male or highly privileged by the patriarchy. That’s what the rest of the world is for. Go watch some TV if you need a reminder that you’re the Big Dog in the Yard. Keep an eye out for women wearing makeup and getting boob jobs for your viewing pleasure, and you’ll have your fill of ego-boosting.
This blog is for fighting the patriarchy.
If you’re down for fighting with me, stick around. Read. Comment. Read the folks on my blogroll. Donate money to Planned Parenthood or your chosen feminist organization.
Join the revolution.
”Go watch some TV if you need a reminder that you’re the Big Dog in the Yard.”
You mean like Family Guy, the Simpsons, and every other show that portrays men as incapable morons and commercials claiming women are Goddesses?
Let me ask you a question, although judging by your lack of literacy skills in reply to my comment to the wannabe feminist’s blog, I doubt you will be able to give me a scientifically correct answer. How do you think the patriarchy came into existence?
Everyone is privileged and disadvantaged in some ways. Everyone.
”Here’s something a misogynist said about me: “You’re a very difficult person to get along with. I think you’re interesting and intelligent, but I can’t handle it.””
LOL! You don’t take compliments very well do you? If he was a true misogynist, do you honestly think he would claim a woman is ”intelligent”?
You are, indeed, a radical feminist. A.K.A.: a feminist who gives other (equity) feminists a bad name. Don’t be surprised not many women or men are feminists.
OK this is getting ridiculous…
Being ”able-bodied” is a natural privilege.
Having a normal BMI is also a natural privilege.
Being a United States citizen is something EVERYONE (Blacks, Homos, etc.) can enjoy providing they registrate to become a citizen. (I’m Canadian so I don’t know how things are done in the States.)
How is ‘’single” a privilege? Because you don’t have to spend money on kid(s)? That’s a personal choice–not a privilege.
Actually, being around 30s would be more of a privilege than being around 20 (cultural-wise, not biologically-wise.)
High School is free. Everyone can be a High School graduate.
Oh and for being White–Please I’m mixed and being Black is not a disadvantage at ALL! You have Affirmative Action to support you and yadi yadi yada.
Here’s the priveleges I enjoy as a male:
- More time in jail for the SAME crime. (http://iblognews.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/do_you_receive_a_lighter_prison_sentence_because_you_are_a_woman.pdf )
- Not being able to see my kid(s) if I’m a ”criminal. (http://chronicle.uchicago.edu/051201/prison.shtml )
- I do not benefit from V.A.W.A.
- More money is spent on researching and improving women’s health. (http://www.window.state.tx.us/comptrol/fnotes/fn9711.html , http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/health/663688.stm )
- Although women suffer from unrealistically high body images, men do too and millions of BOYS are addicted to steroids. (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/health/article1816776.ece )
- Schools teach ”the girl way.” It’s much harder for boys to sit in class and listen for long periods than it is for girls. A privilege girls enjoy. (http://www.dailyfreeman.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1769&dept_id=74969&newsid=16985523&PAG=461&rfi=9 , http://www.pbs.org/parents/raisingboys/school03.html )
- Violence against men is seen as funny. In fact, 60% of women think it is OK to hit men. 8% of women have admitted to injuring their partner. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/glasgow_and_west/5092100.stm )
- Men are much more likely to not be granted Child Custody even though women are more likely to abuse their child(ren). (http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/cb/pubs/cm05/chapterfive.htm )
Not trying to minimize women’s issues, but men have issues too, and the sooner you realize this, the sooner we will be able to work towards making this world a better place.
Oh, hi, dnxx1. How nice of you to come over here to visit. If you’d kindly keep your snark to yourself, maybe we can engage in some mutually beneficial and productive conversation.
You mean like Family Guy, the Simpsons, and every other show that portrays men as incapable morons and commercials claiming women are Goddesses?
From my perspective, the women who are married to these “incapable morons” aren’t “goddesses” but are instead indentured servants who (are socialized to) enable their husbands’ moronic behavior. Yeah, they’re more competent than their husbands, but they’re also responsible for everything that goes on in the household while the men can get away with being bumbling idiots without facing any negative consequences. Men don’t have to be competent because they rely on their wives to take care of them like they’re children. And this is, I agree, a problem of characterization. Have you considered writing to Seth MacFarlane or his writing staff to let them know that you’re offended by their characterization of men, specifically Peter?
I never said that patriarchy doesn’t hurt men — that it hurts men isn’t the point of this blog. It just hurts men less than it hurts women. I agree that we’re all privileged and disadvantaged in the patriarchy. Men are just more privileged in more ways that have more significance than women are.
How do you think the patriarchy came into existence?
Well, since everything you say and do is obviously more “scientifically correct” than everything I say and do, why don’t you tell me the correct answer. I don’t like playing games like this.
If he was a true misogynist, do you honestly think he would claim a woman is “intelligent”?
He was a true misogynist. It doesn’t take baldfaced, outright, blatant hatred of women to make a misogynist. Misogyny is insidious, quiet, and so a part of our society that it’s next to invisible. Besides, the point of that isn’t whether he’s a misogynist or not; the point is that I’m not going to make it easy for anyone to get along with me.
You are, indeed, a radical feminist. A.K.A.: a feminist who gives other (equity) feminists a bad name. Don’t be surprised not many women or men are feminists.
Okay, so I suppose you’re an “equity” feminist and you’re annoyed with me because you think I’m portraying feminism in a bad light. Fine, fine, you’re welcome to your opinion. I don’t agree, obviously, but please, do tell: what is the difference between your feminism and mine? What are you doing to ensure equality between the sexes?
From what I can tell on profeministmale’s blog and your blog, it seems to me you’re just calling bullshit on facts about women (pay gap “myth”) and claiming oppression of men (feministing “promoting” violence against men) without really doing much about it.
I’m fighting patriarchy — in this blog and in my life offline — which is reinforced and enabled by everyone, yes, but (straight, white, upper/-middle-class, educated, adult) men are subject to receive more benefits from patriarchal constructs than women are. And that’s not very fair. If you want to call yourself an equity feminist, awesome, but think about what equity means and what you should be doing to get us there.
I wish you and people like you would quit pointing fingers at other feminists when we’re on the same side. It’s frustrating, infuriating, and counterproductive. I’m not going to your blog and wasting your time with this crap. Instead of fighting me, why don’t you fight our shared problem?
[I just de-spammed your third comment here (it had too many links in it to be published right away), so this is my response to that as well.]
I’m not going to explain why being a white, 20-something high school graduate is a privilege, and I don’t agree with your “natural privilege” stuff, so I’m just going to leave that alone.
Thanks for the stats; I’m quite aware of those things. They don’t change what I do in this blog or in my life, and they don’t make me reconsider my radical feminist stance, as much as you seem to be offended by it.
Not trying to minimize women’s issues, but men have issues too, and the sooner you realize this, the sooner we will be able to work towards making this world a better place.
Here’s the thing, dnxx1, by commenting here and wasting my time by 1) insulting me, 2) derailing the blog, 3) unnecessarily criticizing my list of privileges, and 4) repeating information that I already know and which has less relevance to this blog than to your own, you are not helping me “work towards making this world a better place.” By doing all of this, by quoting stats that aren’t related to this About page, you are, in fact, minimizing women’s issues. You’re taking time, energy, and attention away from women’s issues to put your own in the limelight — and if that’s not minimizing women’s issues, I don’t know what is. I realize that men have their own issues, and if you actually read some of my blog instead of criticizing every last word of this page, you might see that I’m really on your side. Yes, men are harmed by the patriarchy. But! Men also benefit from the patriarchy, more often and to a greater extent than women do. I totally, completely, utterly, without a doubt agree that men have their issues. I see it every day too — I see my partner struggle with being “masculine” in a socially acceptable way and being in a relationship with a feminist. But, honestly, there’s not a lot that *I* can do about that except support him as he figures out his way. And that’s because I have my own shit, my own problems, my own oppressions — and privileges! — to figure out.
So, can we just leave each other alone and/or get along? You be an equity feminist and I’ll be a radical feminist, and I’ll fight the patriarchy and you do whatever it is you do, and we’ll all just be hunky dory. I really don’t want to argue with someone who’s ultimately interested in the same goals I am. I’m not out to get you. Feminists are not the enemy. The patriarchy is. Okay?
Well done, L. I got here via the sitcom thread.
I have a lot of those privileges too — adding “post-baccalaureate degree-holder” and “conventionally attractive”.
Also: no reason to apologize for the spam filter catching a comment — hardly your fault it was doing its job. ^^
OMG!!! The menz has issues??? I’m so shocked! Were it not for millions of books, films, plays, radio programs, news shows, pundits, preachers, and this silly ass commenter, I would never have known.
Congrats, L, no matter how interesting and intelligent you are, your refusal to obey will always be the deal breaker for the misogynist.
My privilege is white, U.S. citizen, and that’s all that I am currently aware of.
When men tell women that feminism should be focusing on men’s issues (in addition to women’s issues? before women’s issues? more than women’s issues? I don’t know), they’re basically playing out their privilege by insisting that women solve their problems/clean up after/do their work for them while they sit on their collective asses and enjoy the perks of the P. It’s almost like, hay guise, there’s a group of wimmins over here who are willing to try to work on/for something, we should get them to do our work, because what they’re doing can’t possibly be important, they’re wimmins!
When men tell women that feminism should be focusing on men’s issues (in addition to women’s issues? before women’s issues? more than women’s issues? I don’t know), they’re basically playing out their privilege by insisting that women solve their problems/clean up after/do their work for them while they sit on their collective asses and enjoy the perks of the P.
You’d think I’d remember this Murphy’s Law of Patriarchy by this point, but I almost always forget it. Thanks for the reminder, Slythwolf.
For future reference: Any expression of feminism will ultimately lead to a “What about teh menz??!1″-esque comment. The extent of the feminist expression will determine the extent of the whining MRAs/”equity”-feminists will do about the feminist expression.
You mean like Family Guy, the Simpsons, and every other show that portrays men as incapable morons and commercials claiming women are Goddesses?
If I wasn’t as invested in feminism as I am, I’d have to say that MRA talking points are serious comedy gold. When are these guys going to admit that being a middle-class white dude isn’t a constant struggle for survival? This guy’s also totally missing the point with Family Guy. He should be offended that the asshole who writes it expects people to find it entertaining, which I find much more egregious than just about any other feature of the show.
Hey L,
Your call to solidarity is more inspiring than any of your other totally awesome rebukes. If men are so concerned about the fall out from patriarchy, if men are so concerned about the problems that their gender faces, then let them organise! However, the problem seems to be that when they do speak out or organise, they mistake feminism for patriarchy and turn on us instead.
Well done you.
Thanks, Buzzo. :)
By no means am I complaining, mind you, but…how in heck did I end up on your blogroll? That is to say, whence did you discover my blog? I ask so I can, maybe, keep up whatever behavior pointed you my way, thus encouraging other readers.
Also, thank you for liking it enough to link it. ^_^
(I found the referral traffic on my Google Analytics and was quite confused, as usually I only get Shakesville blogaround traffic.)
Additionally, if, as your blogroll seems to indicate, you also dabble in the FA movement, you might be interested in checking out All My Jiggly Bits. I co-blog there, but it is primarily written by a RL friend of mine – she is, in my opinion, quite the wordsmith. :)
Wow, I really can’t remember how I came across your blog, llencelyn. It was recently, within the last few weeks. It was probably through someone else’s blogroll. I do read a little in the FA movement blogosphere, so I’ll take a look at that link for All My Jiggly Bits. Thanks for the recommendation!
This is such a great ‘about’ page. I read this great article by Peggy McIntosh in my sociology of race relations class where she listed many of the privileges she enjoys simply for being white. You may have read it, judging by your background in this kind of subject. Anyway, I love how you’ve listed your privileged identities here and refuse to let them go unnoticed.
As for what ‘dnxx1′ had to say, misogyny isn’t always as blatant as you would think, especially in today’s society where people like to think that racism, sexism and prejudice in general aren’t the ‘norm.’ It leaks into our culture in more subtle ways — which is possibly more dangerous, considering there are many people out there like you who completely ignore or fail to understand it. Thus it goes largely unnoticed and taken for granted without any effort going towards actually solving it. I highly suggest you read McIntosh’s article: “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack.”
(I realize those comments are rather old, but whatever. Perhaps someone will find it interesting/useful.)
P.S. Silly me, I just realized you already have that article linked on your sidebar.
Hey, thanks for stopping by, Lauren. I think you’re absolutely right that our goal is fighting the less blatant sexism and misogyny — much of the obvious stuff is tongue-in-cheek or too stupid to comment on.
THANK YOU for this awesome blog. As you said, when we acknowledge our privileges and then KEEP WORKING ON THE PROBLEM instead of paralyzing ourselves with guilt, we get so much more accomplished. You’re so much better at being blunt than me–I still have a niceness (read: “walk all over me”) streak that is good for small talk but not for making a point when somebody decides what I say is “threatening” them (because my 5 feet 3 inches of femininity are SO scary).
I blog about religion, culture, and sexuality mostly, so my topics sometimes overlap with yours. Check it out if you have a spare moment! (You might like the end of “Priests, Women, & Hermaphrodites”…LOL, I know, I went for the controversial title on that one…)