Male privilege
Leaders Prep Section
Watch this video, read these notes, and send the pre-written email (below) to your group 2-3 days before you meet.
Notes
The truth is, we’re all privileged. But, we’re not talking about everyone right now, are we? We’re talking about you…you lousy penis-bearer.
Group Guide Starts Here
Introduction
Male privilege is the oldest type of privilege that has ever existed. And that’s worth thinking about for a moment. Long before the social hierarchy of race, wealth, or religion, there was the hierarchy of gender. For most of history, people lived in homogeneous communities, rarely crossing paths with people from other social-economic statuses or ethnicities. But everyone…all the way back to Adam, knows the difference between men and women.
Historically, it’s impossible to know how the majority of people felt about gender differences. However, we do know that legal reformation only started to happen in western societies over the past two hundred years. Now, feminism is alive and a strong narrative exists as a result.
What have you been accused of having or getting simply because you’re a man? For example, have you been told you make more money, always get your way, or something else along those lines? And, from your experience, is it true?
For the sake of this conversation, let’s define male privilege as something you “get” and male responsibility as something you “give.”
Which were you taught more about growing up: male privilege or male responsibility? Who taught you and what were you taught?
If you live up to your male responsibilities, should you get your male privileges?
Logically, one might think male privilege only exists when women are around. However, this is false. Male privilege also exists when there are only men around.
When men are in a group with other men, they naturally find their place in a hierarchy, giving greater “privilege” to the alpha male. In this way, male privilege between men could be just as easily called “strength privilege” or “intelligence privilege.”
In the end, are we better off as a society if we eliminate male privilege?