(no subject)
So, a former student wanders up to me on campus to borrow a light. I ask him how his student career is going, and he fills me in on all the details. Always nice to catch up with my students, especially the Critical Thinking students, who I usually have their freshman year -- good to know what they're up to, and see their progress.
Then, he says, "can I ask you a question?" His tone has changed, and I find myself struggling to remember if he was in my classes before or after transition. The ease with which he was talking to me, given that I haven't seen him SINCE my class, suggests to me that it was after, but, you know, I can't keep track of these things. One of the many reasons I'm simply open on campus and tell my students it's ok to talk to other people -- I can't keep track of who knows what or whatever.
He asks, "So ... what was the biggest change you noticed, after, you know, people started seeing you as a man? What was the biggest change in how people treat you?"
Oh thank god, not an intrusive personal/biological question at all. And, also -- here's a young dude who is simply *cool* with my transition, and curious, but not in the MUST KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PANTS way I get a lot. It's a question I am very glad to answer.
"Well, keep in mind that I say this as a white guy. The biggest change is that people listen to me, take me seriously. This has its good and its bad sides, personally. I no longer have to fight to get my voice heard. But at the same time, people are more apt to get offended at what I say, because my words carry more weight. In general, it's just *weird* to suddenly gain a level of privilege I never had before. I don't like it, I know I don't deserve it, any more than I deserved to have my voice discounted before I transitioned, and it makes me angry to see what a difference there really is."
We then had a very, very good conversation about privilege and intersectionality, which included race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and the frustrating way in which a lot of straight white cis-dudes don't *get* the privilege they have, because their lives are hard.
Yeah, my job does not suck. At least not all the time. Heh.
Then, he says, "can I ask you a question?" His tone has changed, and I find myself struggling to remember if he was in my classes before or after transition. The ease with which he was talking to me, given that I haven't seen him SINCE my class, suggests to me that it was after, but, you know, I can't keep track of these things. One of the many reasons I'm simply open on campus and tell my students it's ok to talk to other people -- I can't keep track of who knows what or whatever.
He asks, "So ... what was the biggest change you noticed, after, you know, people started seeing you as a man? What was the biggest change in how people treat you?"
Oh thank god, not an intrusive personal/biological question at all. And, also -- here's a young dude who is simply *cool* with my transition, and curious, but not in the MUST KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR PANTS way I get a lot. It's a question I am very glad to answer.
"Well, keep in mind that I say this as a white guy. The biggest change is that people listen to me, take me seriously. This has its good and its bad sides, personally. I no longer have to fight to get my voice heard. But at the same time, people are more apt to get offended at what I say, because my words carry more weight. In general, it's just *weird* to suddenly gain a level of privilege I never had before. I don't like it, I know I don't deserve it, any more than I deserved to have my voice discounted before I transitioned, and it makes me angry to see what a difference there really is."
We then had a very, very good conversation about privilege and intersectionality, which included race, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, and the frustrating way in which a lot of straight white cis-dudes don't *get* the privilege they have, because their lives are hard.
Yeah, my job does not suck. At least not all the time. Heh.