Female privilege (a work in progress)

Because there are so many of these lists available about male privilege, I thought I’d write a corresponding one, as I’ve never seen a list of female privileges.

• If I go out on a date, I don’t have to pay if I can’t afford it.
• People are likely to hold the door for me.
• If I go out to a bar, it is likely that drinks will be offered to me for free.
• If there is a war which requires a draft, I will not get drafted.
• If I enlist, I will not likely see the front lines.
• If I see the front lines it is unlikely to be in a combat role.
• I am not measured by my ability to inflict physical harm upon others.
• If I report an act of violence against me by a person of the opposite sex, it is more likely that I will be offered protection than be laughed at.
• If I am the victim of sexual violence, there are resources available to me.
• If I am in school, those resources are likely available to me on campus.
• If I am not in school, those resources are still likely nearby and free.
• If I am the victim of sexual or domestic violence, there are public events for me to take back the feelings of safety that I lost.
• If I attend those public events, I will not be told that people of my sex are not welcome.
• I am not assumed to be a potential sexual predator because of my sex.
• If I rape someone of the opposite sex, my victim is unlikely to realize that it was rape.
• If my victim does realize that it was rape, that victim is unlikely to report it.
• If the victim does report it, charges will not likely be filed.
• If charges are brought up against me, I am likely to be found not-guilty.
• If I am found guilty, it will reflect on me, not on my sex.
• If I abuse my spouse, it is unlikely to be reported, and even less likely to be prosecuted.
• If I go to jail, I am not likely to be raped.
• If i get raped in prison it will not be seen as part of the punishment.
• If my partner and I have a physical confrontation which results with police intervention, I will likely go home at the end of the night, instead of spending time in jail.
• If I am scared to walk through the streets alone at night, I will not be ridiculed for it.
• I can wear clothing designed for the opposite sex without it being viewed as odd.
• If I use sex toys I will be viewed as liberated and/or sexually adventurous, but not perverse.
• There are readily available resources for people of my sex involved with an unwanted pregnancy.
• If my partner and I get pregnant, I can choose to halt the pregnancy.
• If I have a baby, my right to take time off of work in a salaried position is nearly guaranteed.
• If I have a family, my primary responsibility to that family is spending time with my family.
• I am not considered less of a person if my partner supports me financially.
• There are safe spaces for people of my sex.
• The support groups for my sex help me deal with trauma that has occurred in my life.
• The support groups for my sex are not focused around how not to be a victimizer.
• There are several prestigious schools that serve only my sex.
• There are many scholarships available only to my sex.
• I am unlikely to be told that I am unfairly afforded special privileges because of my sex.
• If I take advantage of opportunities expressly available to people of my sex, and do not speak up against the sex-based discrimination, I will not get accused of supporting the gender status-quo.
• If I cry in public, nobody will think less of me.
• I can have close, emotional friendships with people of the same gender without being persecuted.
• I can be physically close to someone of the same sex (i.e. holding hands, hugging) in public without being persecuted.
• If I put myself in an environment dominated by the opposite sex, nobody will question my motives.
• If I study gender in an academic context, nobody will accuse me of trying to hijack the discussion if my view differs from the prevailing one.
• I can speak out against sexism that affects me negatively without anyone telling me that my concerns are invalid because someone has it worse.
• I can be involved with discussions about gender without feeling as though I am being blamed for society’s ills.
• I can be involved in gender politics without being accused of sexism by my would-be allies.

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