Male Privilege: A Thorn in the Flesh in Social Relationships
by A review of some of the privileges enjoyed by men and the disadvantages placed on women.
The long held view that men are superior to women has created an irresoluble friction and rift between men and women. Sexism and chauvinism are some of the terms used to describe such views and their practice. Women seeing themselves victimized by such system, have been struggling to rise above the confinement and inhibitions they create. They fight and endeavor to find meaning and identity in their lives and themselves amidst the male dominated and patriarchal society they find themselves in.
This patriarchal, chauvinistic and sexist dominated society bestows on men, certain rights, freedom and opportunities which can only be exercised by them and these are referred to as male privilege. These privileges are denied to women and serve as a ground for the condemnation and character assassination of women.
It is an observed fact that women’s place and involvement in societal affairs has taken a remarkable positive and productive shape from that of passiveness to activeness. Yet, this does not prevent patriarchal society as we have, from exploiting them and still seeing them as inferior to men.
In social relationship which is the concern of this work, the issue of male privilege has become a case of injustice and unfairness to the women folk. Some of the dirty behaviors exhibited by men are justifiably referred to as male privilege to the disadvantage of women. Sometimes, one can help wondering if females have privilege too?
Moreover, these privileges have been turned to something natural and inherent in every man. It has become a normal way of life for men. In a discussion with one man of God, he said that three things are natural in men and you must find one or two or even three of them in every man except the person is a strong born again Christian or devoted and committed to his God. The first he mentioned was promiscuity, followed by smoking and dinking, then cheating and lying. In order words, they are male privileges nature blessed men with and cursed women to live with because they are the ones that bear the brunt of those privileges. What one can not comprehend is when immorality has become a natural, normal and glorious way of living.
More to the point, a friend’s fiancé called her one day and told her to do away with every other man in her life irrespective of their relationship with her. Apart from her family members, he wants himself and himself alone to be the only man in her life. He knows that the girl has been faithful to her but he can not bear to hear another man call her or see her laughing with another man. The girl agreed but told him that he also had to do the same with the ladies he claims to be his friends but this, the man objected to. According to him, “I am a man and can keep female friends but you are not allowed to keep male friends freely”.
Liked it
