Lately, social justice issues are at the forefront of every discussion, both political and personal. You can't turn on the TV, pick up a magazine or browse the Internet without seeing something about minority issues. Gay marriage, equal pay for women, transgender rights, police brutality against African Americans, the list goes on and on. Especially with the new millennial generation, it seems that everyone is concerned with creating equality and being politically correct. My fellow privileged Americans may think, "Hey, if everyone starts focusing only on minorities, then aren't we giving them some type of privilege?" Is this true? I mean, if every minority gets special distinction, then why doesn't the majority? If we're fighting for equality, then shouldn't we give white, straight men the same "perks?" Why don't we have white history month, straight pride parades, and men's studies classes? If you're seriously questioning this, then here are a few points that I would like you to consider.
1. "Your history is taught as a requirement. Mine is taught as an elective."
Think of the history classes that you've taken throughout your education. Think about the important leaders that you studied. General history curriculums, whether they are in elementary schools, high schools, or even colleges, have some very important aspects in common; They are all very white and very male. Whenever I want to learn about women's studies, I have to specifically take a women's history course. If I want to learn about men's history or white history, I simply need to take a regular ole history class. Rarely do we get more than a paragraph about a historical event's impacts on minorities, and events solely affecting minorities are often ommitted from the text all together. Even more rarely is a history emphasizing minority groups required. Do you remember reading about the honorable Harvey Milk or the Stonewall Riots in elementary school? Me neither.
2. Literally every other month is dedicated to you.
Black History Month, along with other black inclusive spaces, such as BET (Black Entertainment Television) and the Black Lives Matter movement, was created because there was no African American representation in mainstream society. During Black History Month we celebrate the accomplishments of exclusively black historical figures, but what are we focusing on the rest of the year? If we weren't focusing on white history every other month, then there would be no need for Black History Month, but it seems like this is the only time that we discuss that rich cultural background. White Americans get a whole year dedicated to their history while African Americans get only one month. (A bonus is that Black History Month is February a.k.a. the shortest month of the year.)
3. Society does not shame you for who you are.
Simply watching a few episodes of any popular television show is enough to reinforce someone's comfort in their straight identity. We are taught through media and other sources that being straight it expected, and thus there is only need to "come out" when you deviate from that norm. There is not need for straight pride, because there is no such thing as straight shaming. Gay pride exists for people to celebrate finding happiness with an identity persecutes. You do not need a special event to express pride in your sexuality unless you have experienced fierce discrimination for it. And somebody on Tumblr saying "Straight people are stupid." does not count as discrimination.
4. Would you really want to switch places with them?
I get it. I'm privileged too. Sometimes when we're given advantages our whole life, it is easy to just expect them. We don't even notice the ways we're privileged, but we do notice when others get something that we don't. Next time that you find yourself facing "reverse discrimination" think of what the converse is. Your race might not have your own television channel, but your race also wasn't enslaved and isn't systemically oppressed. You might not have your own parade, but your love has always been legal and it is not punishable by death in other countries. Men's studies isn't a field of study, but you also make significantly more than women do for the same work. The "privileges" that you are missing out really aren't that vital and certainly don't over power the oppression that come with them.
Finally, it is important to note that it isn't someone's fault that they were born privileged. This is in no way to make you feel guilty for the race, gender, or sexuality that you are. It is, however, your fault if you remain complicit in the systems that give you an advantage and do not recognize that you are privileged in some aspect. Bad things may happen to you, but they don't usually happen because you are white, straight, or a man. Keep this in mind next time you decide to take to the Internet and petition a new holiday in honor of your systemic dominance.
