Mythical Norm When One Examines

¶ … Mythical Norm

When one examines the mythical norm, it rapidly becomes clear that it is not simply one characteristic that dominates the norm, but the interplay of a significant number of characteristics. Yes, to be white in American society has long been considered to be an element of privilege, but white women got the legal right to vote more than a quarter of a century after African-American males. To be male in America is traditionally considered a position of power, but African-American males still remain the most oppressed group, and when you add sexuality and socioeconomic class into that mix and look specifically at poor, gay African-American males, the picture becomes even grimmer. What this makes clear is that a person can inhabit both dominant and subordinate categories at the same time. It also means that dominant and subordinate categories are not fixed; each category influences other categories. Therefore, while it is dominant to be white, thin, young, Christian, rich, straight male, that does not mean that the least powerful position is necessarily minority, fat, old, non-Christian, poor, gay, female, but it does suggest than any of those factors, taken in isolation, is likely to make someone less influential than the dominant cultural norm. Furthermore, it implies that a combination of subordinate characteristics is likely to make someone less powerful.

In order to really understand the consequences or experiences of inhabiting multiple subordinate categories, one could look at how legislation against a single one of the subordinate groups can have a more dramatic impact on a person if they also occupy additional subordinate groups. For example, examining legislation that would change funding to Planned Parenthood, which is the nation's largest provider of free or low-cost women's healthcare, reveals different impacts on different groups. Wealthy women do not have to worry about funding to Planned Parenthood; they can access full cost women's healthcare services and therefore do not have a personal interest in affordable health care for women. However, combine being female with being poor and this change has a greater impact on the person. What is interesting though is that by adding in another subordinate class- homosexuals- the impact changes once more, as lesbian women have less need to access contraceptives than straight women.

I have to admit that I find it difficult to relate to subordinate categories. I am male, white, and, while not wealthy, I am also not poor. I also happen to Christian and straight, though neither of those characteristics is necessarily visible by bystanders who happen to observe me. I have heard about white privilege, but I cannot say that I have ever personally known that I was experiencing preferential treatment of any type because I am white or male. However, I think that is the dangerous part of being a member of the dominant group, particularly when one is a member of multiple dominant groups- the danger that one thinks that one's personal experiences are universal experiences because those are the experiences that I always have. Moreover, I do not think that I necessarily see how other people are treated because I think that people respond differently when someone is in the company of a member of the dominant group. For example, I know that my female friends are sometimes subjected to sexually harassing comments from people, but I have never heard someone make those types of comments when I am with my friends. Likewise, I know that my minority friends are sometimes subjected to comments or other mistreatment, but I have not witnessed that or any overt religious discrimination. I have, however, experienced some overt discrimination against members of other subordinate groups when I have been with them. I have heard people make fun of fat members of my family in public, when there was no interaction at all between those groups. I have also heard people insult gay people. What surprises me is that there is really no negative public reaction to those comments.