By Dalia Gonzalez
I've mentioned before how men have different privileges when it comes to society's perceptions. Trans men have spoken out about how their transition highlighted their male privilege in places where women are often told to grow up or shut up. Trans men have noted they were given "the floor" faster and with more frequency as men than before their transition. As ciswomen in the workplace, stars like Rashida Jones, Mindy Kaling, and even polarizing high power feminists Marissa Mayer and Sheryl Sandberg have mentioned it was hard to get heard or even noticed in male dominated spaces. Sandberg's philosophy for women to work harder at their jobs has come under heavy fire in recent months. Society says it's accepting of all genders, but isn't as reflective of the radical change when you look at statistics.
Recently there was a story about gay men being ostracized in the same manner as straight women. Sometimes they are also told they aren't "man enough" or haven't "grown up ". I can't help but wonder if this relates to the way women are treated with less consideration in the workplace. What is so polarizing about the "fairer sex"? The wonder of being able to bring life into the world? The way women's bodies and internal organs are altered and pushed aside to accommodate that new life? The hormone fluctuations under no control of their own? Their greater pain threshold? It certainly can't be physical; the idea that women aren't as physically strong can be debunked by any visit to a weightlifting contest, and wouldn't explain why gay men are ostracized in the same sense. Perhaps it's related to their attraction to men?
It's a great thing that Jason Collins and Michael Sam are doing their parts to pave the way in ultra-hetero macho sports for other LGBTQIA persons. I can already see the change in acceptance and tolerance happening in other sports news, and Russia's anti-gay laws bought about much more outspokenness in the LGBTQIA community and I applaud that. But in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a "dress up doll" of Vladmir Putin has shown up online where the clothing options are things like high heels, feather boas, and glittering diamonds. It's an interesting choice that hasn't gone unnoticed online and I'm certainly not the only one to notice the connection between dressing this doll in stereotypical drag clothes and how that's supposed to be funny in a humiliating way because men dressed as women or presenting more feminine is "hilarious".
People often talk about how women won't be liberated until men are. At first it seems like malarkey. Straight, white, cismen are among the largest privileged group we have. But even in 2014 interracial couples are still being racially targeted. Men who choose to dress similar to that dress up game are ostracized. We created the term "metrosexual" so hetero men would feel okay with skincare, fashion, and even basic personal hygiene because apparently we've gone so extreme that men can't shave without their masculinity being insulted.
And so things are changing, albeit slowly, and I'd love if these changes cultivate a new culture where everyone brings discussions like these out in the open and analyzes them.
March 8th is International Women's Day. In celebrating women, let's celebrate us all.
