tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post9120636264200089334..comments2024-03-18T02:22:56.392-04:00Comments on Disgusted Beyond Belief: More Comments than Posts (turned into Post on Privilege)DBBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17805375811782552873noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post-43473996618118536542007-07-26T11:21:00.000-04:002007-07-26T11:21:00.000-04:00BB - I included in the category of 'privilege' thi...BB - I included in the category of 'privilege' things like sexual harrasment at work, failure to get a job/promotion for gender, and things like that which are not trivial. Though it is true that a lot of those problems are less prevalent than before (and in some sectors of the economy they have been eliminated almost entirely), there is still enough of it out there that it makes sense to discuss it under the umbrella of privilege. <BR/><BR/>But I think you may be right - that discussing trivialities is a sign of success. I somehow think in the nations where women are genitally mutilated, sold as slaves, and raped by maurading armies that who gets credit for housecleaning is much of a concern. The fact that I've seen so many women cite it as a concern in the United States is probably a pretty strong indicator that a great deal of gender inequality has been eliminated or reduced.DBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805375811782552873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post-5989322987207772382007-07-26T11:11:00.000-04:002007-07-26T11:11:00.000-04:00But I don't think that privilege—or at least...But I don't think that privilege—or at least the sort of trivial privilege you describe—really is the cornerstone of feminism. I think there are no small few self-described feminists who do concern themselves with trivialities, but I think the <I>cornerstone</I> of feminism is equal rights for women.<BR/><BR/>I submit that concern for triviality is a symptom of feminism's <I>success</I>: Women are not, at least as a matter of explicit or tolerant institutional authority, routinely raped, murdered, disenfranchised, and economically disempowered: Compare and contrast Western society with Islamic society.<BR/><BR/>This is not, of course, to say that women have achieved anywhere near full equality, but the institutional barriers to women's equality have been substantively weakened. (Of course, the recent trend of the Supreme Court to gut women's reproductive rights is a chilling step backward.)Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post-20307594255549628582007-07-26T08:59:00.000-04:002007-07-26T08:59:00.000-04:00BB - point taken, but then this isn't just about t...BB - point taken, but then this isn't just about the trivial claims, this is about the whole concept of privilege in general. And the privilege concept appears to me to be one of the central pillars of feminism, so in that respect, I think it is not trivial to address it. <BR/><BR/>Maya's granny - forgive my ignorance, but what is an MEd? And you forgot to list one of your assets - Maya. ;) <BR/><BR/>Erin - I have trouble discerning if you are being sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek, or serious - or perhaps all three... but such is the limit of the medium... but I definitely can't argue with you about your first point - it seems a woman is far more likely to get helped out in many situations than a man is. <BR/><BR/>Leta - it is true there is more to abiilty than just raw intelligence - one would hope part of having high intelligence is realizing the need to apply it consistently to actually get things done...DBBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805375811782552873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post-50314393852500265412007-07-26T00:39:00.000-04:002007-07-26T00:39:00.000-04:00On the one hand, I take your point, and I'm sympat...On the one hand, I take your point, and I'm sympathetic. On the other hand, it seems a bit trivial itself to complain about the triviality of others' complaints.Larry Hamelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08788697573946266404noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post-19978608526892179482007-07-26T00:13:00.000-04:002007-07-26T00:13:00.000-04:00Other forms of "female privelege": when you get a ...Other forms of "female privelege": when you get a flat tire on the highway, somebody <I>will</I> stop to help you. (Just have your husband/boyfriend hide in the back seat.) Ready-made excuse to buy something you want but don't need. Greater variety of shoes. Having your own boobs. Getting the final say in decorating decisions. Being able to pitch a giant, immature fit, bordering on an outright temper tantrum, in order to get your way. PMS: three days a month to be as mean and petty as you want. Temper tantrum not getting you what you want? Just withold sex. <BR/>And, finally, what I like to call "Playing the Dumb Cute Girl Card." At the hardware store, auto mechanic's, car dealership, or when anyone points out your glaring lack of knowledge about a topic, all you have to do is twirl a lock of hair around your finger and giggle, and someone will just do or decide for you.<BR/>With all this at our disposal, it's amazing we find the time to be snarky about things like who gets the blame for a messy house. Then again, it could just be a temper tantrum.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03315849412290918217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post-47548771446420452262007-07-25T22:55:00.000-04:002007-07-25T22:55:00.000-04:00Also don't confuse intelligence with an ability to...Also don't confuse intelligence with an ability to do a difficult task. You can have a massive I.Q. and attention deficit disorder at the same time.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post-91122574937526166192007-07-25T22:50:00.000-04:002007-07-25T22:50:00.000-04:00Reading that post and comments is making my head e...Reading that post and comments is making my head explode. How can intelligent people suddenly be so illogical? Its like talking to people who believe in intelligent design.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2925765946042638459.post-81290744856991066182007-07-25T17:43:00.000-04:002007-07-25T17:43:00.000-04:00Such a good post!!! I am thinking of two things:1....Such a good post!!! I am thinking of two things:<BR/>1. As a 65 year-old fat woman of colonial descent with a MEd, who has been a single mother, always worked in non-profit settings, and was unable to <B><I>start</I></B> saving for retirement until I was 51, I have a mix of privilege. The white, MEd, colonial descent, having a strong work history are all privileges. The woman, 65, fat, single without much money, not so much. Still, I'm much better off than most people of color, people with less education, illegal immigrants and even legal immigrants who don't speak English yet.<BR/><BR/>2. I have a friend, also of colonial descent, who married an Hispanic man. I once heard him tell her she had to do what he said because he is the man, and she responded, "Well, why don't we consider that I'm white and descended from two American presidents? Seems to me that about offsets it."Maya's Grannyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12183715043200608144noreply@blogger.com