In article <370A2C04.4C212B46 at pilot.msu.edu>, "Sarah C. Hunter"
<hunters2 at pilot.msu.edu> wrote:
> Actually, in a way, Linnea, we don't and won't ever get how "hard" it is
> to be a white guy. (Thank goodness for some things!) After all, they are
> starting to be pulled from their privileged positions (which they don't
> see as privileged) by forces beyond their control (us and other
> minorities). Suddenly, we are asking them to work for what they have or
> want, be put aside for jobs/assignments when someone more qualified
> comes along, and accept that as being "right," "good," and "progress."
> Which it IS for society and those more qualified, but NOT for the
> individual in question. They aren't used to this.
You seem to be implying that males have never had to work for what they have...
Do you mean this? You don't mean to suggest that all white males have had
the same easy time, do you? There has always been tension between white
males as well, such as what schools people attended which provided levels
of privilege unrelated to merit. The gender issue is another facet of the
situation.
[Snip]
> So, in a way, they were correct, we don't "get" how hard it is to be a
> white guy. It doesn't matter. They don't really "get" what it is like
> to be female. What matters is that we go on doing the best we can at
> being our (female) selves and moving toward equalizing inequities we
> find.
I agree with this completely. Both genders need to grow in their
understanding of the situation.
B. Martin
