A little over 100 years ago in America, which is where I'm based, a few women asked the simple question something like "If the declaration of independence states that all people are created equal, how come I'm less equal than he is." Women began questioning institutionalized sexism a lot longer ago than a century ago. Christine de Pizan, for example was writing about sexism in the 1400s. Her perspective, obviously, was different than a modern woman's, but she is usually counted amongst pre-modern feminists. I do agree that society has come a long way. No doubt. However, to say that we are now a prejudice-free society is absolutely false, as I am sure you agree. My reason for disagreeing with you here (i.e. on this topic) is that just because (for example) we have a Civil Rights Act that bans preventing black people from voting doesn't mean that there are no voting issues. Far from it, in fact. You have privilege by virtue of your whiteness and maleness. You have admitted as such. I have privilege by virtue of my whiteness and lack it due to my femaleness. We both have the privilege that comes from being American. And so on, and so on. Having privilege does not make one a bad person. Having unchecked privilege makes one a bit of an ass. A few decades of life after the civil rights movement has not negated the need for the laws of those times, or things like affirmative action. That will take much longer.
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Date: 2009-06-30 07:09 pm (UTC)Women began questioning institutionalized sexism a lot longer ago than a century ago. Christine de Pizan, for example was writing about sexism in the 1400s. Her perspective, obviously, was different than a modern woman's, but she is usually counted amongst pre-modern feminists.
I do agree that society has come a long way. No doubt. However, to say that we are now a prejudice-free society is absolutely false, as I am sure you agree.
My reason for disagreeing with you here (i.e. on this topic) is that just because (for example) we have a Civil Rights Act that bans preventing black people from voting doesn't mean that there are no voting issues. Far from it, in fact.
You have privilege by virtue of your whiteness and maleness. You have admitted as such. I have privilege by virtue of my whiteness and lack it due to my femaleness. We both have the privilege that comes from being American. And so on, and so on. Having privilege does not make one a bad person. Having unchecked privilege makes one a bit of an ass.
A few decades of life after the civil rights movement has not negated the need for the laws of those times, or things like affirmative action. That will take much longer.