Why I Love Being a Guy

1) When in bad mood people won't blame it on it being "Mother Nature's Gift" 2) Live without fear of being sexually harassed 3) Better chance of getting a job vs the opposite sex. 4) Won't have to worry about not being hired because the employer may be worried about you getting pregnant. 5) Less likely to be the victim in an abusive relationship 6) Won't be seen ass a whore if you have a high body count 7) Seen as a better driver. 8) Seen as a better leader. 9) If you decide to not have children your masculinity won't be questioned. 10) Seen as dominant. 11) Less likely to be insecure about looks and appearance. 12) Less likely to worry about sexual harassment in the work place. 13) Seen as funnier. 14) Every leader in religion is led by the male sex. 15) Can freely practice religion without having to worry about subjecting yourself to think less of yourself. After thinking of these several ways I am privileged solely because I was born a male it made me think wider about stigmas pertaining to your sexuality. More times than not we as a society still go by the idea that men are the "hunters" and women are the "gatherers/caretakers. It has gotten better for women over the past couple of decades but they still have a ways to go. In closing I'd have to say frankly I'm thankful I was born a man as women seem to have way more pressure to deal with in life.

Privilege

In White Privilege: Unpacking the invisible knapsack, Peggy McIntosh explains the problem of unearned privileges that are current in American society. Being white I can highly relate as she goes on about the unearned privileges that white people obtain for no particular reason, but yet give the white community some advances just for their skin color. The more Mclntosh went on about white privilege, the more I really came to realize some privileges I have that I never really gave much thought to. Although I am not completely ignorant to the fact that race can effect certain aspects of people’s life, in some examples that she gives bring new provoking thoughts that have most people don’t talk about.

Here are some of the privileges I have just for being a white woman. 

1)      I am not followed at stores being expected of stealing

    2)      My race in highly represented in movies and television

   3)      Getting my hair done is usually an easy task and it is also easy to take care of

   4)      I have good opportunities to receive an education

    5)      There are not many racial slurs for my race

   6)      I am almost never discriminated against

   7)      I am not judged in my work environment 

   8)      I don’t get pulled over often

  9)      When I do get pulled over, I am more likely to get off with a warning

   10)  I am not rejected by society for my color

   11)  I can go about my day usually being welcomed by other people even as a stranger

   12)  If someone is mean to me, I don’t tend to have to ponder if there was some sort of racist element involved

  13)  I am likely to get people to rent me a nice apartment or house because of my skin color

  14)  I don’t have to worry about possibly living in a “bad neighborhood”

  15)  People expect me to be well-spoken and articulate

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

Unearned Privileges

Having been born into a wealthy family:

1. I was never looked down upon by others
2.   I was never set in the “majority” poverty stature of my race
3.    It was never assumed that I knew Spanish, so no one ever approached me speaking it
4.  I always had the medical attention I needed
5. I never had old clothes or shoes
6.  I was always invited and included with the ‘white’ kids
7.    I attended highly recognized schools and never had to worry about expenses, even when attending college
8.     I was never bullied or targeted by others
9.    I was never starred at by others
10.  I was never followed or watched by store workers as I shopped
11. I was able to get all the things I ever needed and wanted growing up
12. I was always insured
13.  I was given a lot of the things most people of my race usually would have to work for
14. I never have to work while in school
15.  I never have to worry about money because I know my parents will take care of me 

I feel we all have a responsibility to give up unearned privileges that benefit us to have a more equal society here in America. Even though it may not be our fault that we come into this world with these privileges. For example, being born white, or wealthy or even male these are things out of our control that none of us can predict. I feel we, Americans, are so used to these privileges it would be hard to give these everyday things up. I never noticed how privileged I was compared to other people just because of my families social class. Like Peggy McIntosh stated, “[we] are carefully taught not to recognize [these] privileges” so they have become somewhat of a norm for each of us and when the norms of a person are stripped from them it becomes hard for those persons to deal with or handle their day to day lives. Now I’m not saying that we shouldn’t give these privileges up, in fact I’m stating the opposite. I believe everyone no matter what gender, race, affiliation or religion we are or come from, it is best that we all start with the same privileges and in order for this to happen we all have to give a little; Even if it hurts us. 

Male privileges

1-able to be accepted if I don't wear a shirt in public

2- don't have to be scrutinized about my appearance all the time

3- don't have monthly whatever's

4- metabolism much faster than girls

5- can go to a car shop and people don't try to deceive me with lies to cost me more money

6- don't have to shave all the time because no one cares if I'm hairy

7-if I talk to more than one girl I'm not frowned upon I'm praised

8-more respected in the professional world

9- certain stereo types don't apply to me such as being a bad driver

10- jeans always fit right

11- don't have to wear a bra

12- don't have to do my hair every morning just wake up and go

13- aren't frowned upon if I get older and don't have kids or married

14- don't get weird stares if I just so happen to walk in a gentlemen's club

15- can walk alone at night without being worried about too much


Manuel Ruiz

A More Perfect Union

In Barack Obama’s story of “A More Perfect Union”, he describes the struggles of being black. I think his point of America having improved so much is completely true. Even though there is still racism going on very much today, it is nothing like it use to be years ago. With Obama being president, many questions and issues have come up but Obama ran for the fact to show that we can all come together as one country. Obama points out the fact that we are all alike by the things that we want in our country: schools that form our children’s futures, people that believe our children can learn and be somebody, equal job opportunities, to see that men and women of every race are fighting together under one flag, and for all to show their patriotism to our country. Many forget the fact that Barack Obama is half white and half black and was raised by his white grandmother and grandfather. Another fact that Obama brings up is how the wealth gap potentially formed. Years ago blacks were not able to purchase land, receive loans, and were excluded from unions, the police force, and from the fire department. Because of this future generations were not able to have that start on their lives, they were always stuck being at the bottom. I believe Obama is right that our country has so much further to become a perfect union and who knows if that will ever happen because of the fast that many of all gone through and still hold that grudge and sometimes pass it on to their next generation by telling them the history instead of just letting it go and realizing that our country really has come a long way. He describes this answer after introducing Reverend Wright and understanding why he says the things he does in his sermons. Obama doesn’t believe that holding these grudges is right because as a kid he got to experience the racism and has learn how much our country has changes through politics.

Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack

     After reading Peggy McIntosh's essay, I can easily reflect back on just how much privilege and oppression affect us in America today. For myself, my unearned privilege can be listed as such:

1. Being born into a middle class family, I never went to bed hungry.

2. Being born into a middle class family, I was able to have new clothes every school year.

3. Being born into a middle class family, I was able to grow up with everything I needed and most of what I wanted.

4. Being born into a middle class family, I was able to afford to go to the doctor if I ever needed to, free of fear that it would cost too much and I'd just have to tough it out.

5. Being born into a middle class family has allowed me to be able to attend a university with minimal loans taken out.

6. Being a college student, I have earned the privilege not to be scrutinized for being "lazy."

7. Being a college student I am deemed to automatically be more trusted by employers in regard to my intellectual ability.

8. Being a college student, I am more appealing to employers overall.

9. Having not been born with a disability, I am free to walk or run.

10. Having not being born blind, I can see.

11. Having not being gay, I am free from harsh treatment by people who don't approve of homosexuality.

12. Having a Caucasian father, I am privileged to not be stared at in public.

13. Being religious has freed me from a good amount of scrutiny from the Christian community.

14. Being born into a family that could provide nice clothes and things, I was free from being picked on by the "popular" kids.

15. Being a woman has excused me from being expected to take out the trash or lift heavy things.

     Even from just writing all of these down, it brings a sense of shame for having all of these things when you did nothing to deserve them. The American society gives so much unearned privilege to so many people. I find it our responsibility to give up some of our unearned things to lessen unearned privilege for so many reasons; first off, we have been raised to fight for a more equal society and as McIntosh pointed out, we can only be so equal without pointing out the embedded privileges we all hold. Whether it be based on race, religion, education, or whatever else, we all deserve to be born with the same amount of privilege as anyone else. Also, the power that seems to come along with the privilege. The distinction is hard to make; the distinction between being born with a privilege and using the advantage to give us power from just unearned privilege. That distinction affects our daily lives. For me, it affects me when I think to my Caucasian, male professor. It makes you wonder, did he earn that job? Or did his privilege help him out? As a society, we need to be able to reach a point one day at which we shouldn't have to wonder about what privilege someone earned that allowed them to get something. It should be that everyone has true equal opportunity at every job or position in any society.

Unearned Privileges

Unearned Privileges

1.      Because of my race I do not have to worry about discrimination in a work environment

2.      Because of my wealth I get more privileges and opportunities than those who are poor

3.      Because of my gender I sometimes get let off easier (i.e. cops)

4.      Because of my race I do not have to worry about trying to find someone to rent me an apartment/buy a home

5.      Because of my race my children will not be publicly humiliated

6.      Because of my race I am able to wear whatever suits me without  society judging me

7.      Because of my race I am often treated a lot nicer in stores and am watched less for stealing, vandalism, and other crimes

8.      Because of my race I will never be labeled as anything other than an American (terrorist, foreigner, etc.)

9.      Because of my race I am never questioned as to why I own guns

10.  Because of my race I never have to deal with people telling me to “go back to your country”

11.  Because of my race I am able to drive whatever car I want with whatever accessories I please (rims, subs, LED lights) and not be pulled over for looking “suspicious”

12.  Because of my “white name” I do not have to worry about employers discriminating against me during the interviewing process

13.  Because of my race and my “white name” I never have to deal with teachers/subs not knowing how to properly pronounce my name

14.  Because of my race there are a lot more opportunities for me in the media business because the  media, culture, society, magazines, television, movies, and music shows people of the White race daily

15.  Because of my race, if I was a criminal, it would be significantly easier for me to find a job when I got out of jail

Although the white race does have more of these unearned privileges, I feel as though giving them up isn’t going to solve the problem. People are still going to feel the same way they did before the privileges were given up. If an employer wants to discriminate against certain races, they will. Instead, I feel like we should focus more on the qualifications and goals of a person instead of their race or background. One way that these aspects of our identity take away from us is the sense of accomplishment. Many will argue until they are blue in the face that the only reason we got that scholarship, job, or opportunity was because of our race or gender or social position. While this isn’t always true, it still plays a huge role in our society.