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comment by riemannman
riemannman  ·  4610 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Evil of Being "Normal"
Society may be saying these things, but society is pretty fucking stupid sometimes. I would argue though that any mis-characterization of white, cis-gendered, straight men is greatly swamped by the negative stereotypes associated with other social groups. While you take exception with idealizing people like us as "normal" because of your perceived negative effects on people like us, I ask you to consider what it is like to be considered "abnormal" by society.

But regardless, what feminists ask is that those who are white, cisgendered, straight, educated, able-bodied, etc. etc. is that we constantly check our privilege. Being the "normal" has EXTREME privileges that we can't even begin to understand completely, since we have never fully experienced the barriers that other groups of people have.





riemannman  ·  4610 days ago  ·  link  ·  
One more thing, how true is this exactly?

>However, the common assumption about me, portrayed by the media (both "independent" and more conventional), is that I am a pig; that I am racist, sexist, constantly horny, and unable to express emotion. The same thing goes for my father, who actually does make a good amount of money, and has trouble expressing emotions. I am told, both by special interest groups and by society at large, that I am a bad person.

Maybe we live in vastly different places on the globe, but I've never felt those stereotypes levied against me. Furthermore, do these stereotypes seep into every aspect of your life like stereotypes of other groups do for them? Do they keep men from getting jobs? Do they make people subconsciously value you as a lesser member of society? Are they portrayed in the media day in and day out? Are they part of the very social fabric of society?

Your whole post is about competition about victimization. But it really seems to me that you are the one trying to compete. Societal oppression of men is pretty much non-existent - except through gender roles which negatively affect both men and women.

cgod  ·  4610 days ago  ·  link  ·  
Sorry I read your post wrote my reply came back posted and saw your post. I might have just tagged on to what you wrote, it's closely in line with what I had to say. I will say that I think that male gender roles have some pretty sever effects on the mental state of men, and a resulting bad result on the lives of our world in general. I think that the ill effects of male gender stereotyping is generally unexamined in comparison to female stereotyping and result in worse cultural effects.
JTHipster  ·  4608 days ago  ·  link  ·  
You summarized in a single sentence what I was attempting to say over a very long post.

Do I ever have a great deal of things to start replying too, now that I have the time.