cumrag27
BSB Addict
- Joined
- Mar 10, 2010
- Posts
- 2,776
- Reaction score
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Please consider the following:
Dear str8grrrrl,
I agree with much that you have to say. "But the fact remains that, currently, straight men from a specific ethnic, religious and socio-economic group run things, by and large..."And varying from this norm generally results in subjugation and marginalization, whether by economic means or physical violence." Certainly we have the "glass ceiling" which is another name for the "Good Old Boys" paradigm which keeps at bay less-powerful others, you might call them outsiders, that aspire to high positions.
I have had 36 years of personal experience that when a male is employed in a field predominated by women, such as "public education", this same subjugation and marginalization has been my experience coming from female co-workers(black or white) in the "majority" position. Although fully certified and equipped to function effectively in my chosen field in education, I found no particularly welcoming open arms from the ranks of my co-worker female teachers who outnumbered me sometimes by a ratio of 30:1. Try as I may, I remained an outsider most of my 36 years due to my sex(not sexual preference).
On the one occasion in 1982 that I became the classroom teacher negotiator and spokesman for pay increases(receiving no monetary compensation), I was able to get almost 95% support in a signed petition from teachers(predominantly female) throughout our school district. Yet, when I was to actually make the presentation before our School Board on all teacher's behalf, all teachers were invited to this pivitol meeting. The vast majority of teachers failed to stand with me in support for the actual presentation. Before the School Board meeting actually started, I could see from a window teacher cars slowing down out front as if they were about to stop and turn into the parking lot and, then, they would almost "peel out" scurrying away before completing their turn as if to avoid being identified as some rebel or troublemaker.
Although my 5 year plan was originally rejected by the board, once the next administration came to power, this plan for teacher pay raises was accomplished in less than 5 years and salaries were at the level projected in my original proposal. Only a handful of female teachers regardless of race were brave enough to stand with me, their co-worker and representative, when they were most needed to be present. If nothing else, I feel the sheer numbers of teachers could have provided enough intimidation to our School Board that my negotiations could have possibly succeeded on the first attempt. Besides me as a white male, my support from the administrative staff was comprised mostly of white males with a few white females (with limited racial diversity in both groups) and they were in total support at the time of the proposed pay raises for teachers(black and white mostly females district-wide).
So again, I must conclude in my own personal experience as a white gay male that not all in power(regardless of race or sex) are there expressly to subjugate and marginalize..."whether by economic means or physical violence." I would suggest that there are exceptions to this mindset, if you would look for them and not assume the worst. Probably the exceptions along the way are way too few, but they do exist. Sometimes you have to think outside the box and then precede as if the normal obstacles do not exist. After all, life is not always fair in all circumstances.
Respectfully submitted,
Cumrag27, aka Stimpy
Dear str8grrrrl,
I agree with much that you have to say. "But the fact remains that, currently, straight men from a specific ethnic, religious and socio-economic group run things, by and large..."And varying from this norm generally results in subjugation and marginalization, whether by economic means or physical violence." Certainly we have the "glass ceiling" which is another name for the "Good Old Boys" paradigm which keeps at bay less-powerful others, you might call them outsiders, that aspire to high positions.
I have had 36 years of personal experience that when a male is employed in a field predominated by women, such as "public education", this same subjugation and marginalization has been my experience coming from female co-workers(black or white) in the "majority" position. Although fully certified and equipped to function effectively in my chosen field in education, I found no particularly welcoming open arms from the ranks of my co-worker female teachers who outnumbered me sometimes by a ratio of 30:1. Try as I may, I remained an outsider most of my 36 years due to my sex(not sexual preference).
On the one occasion in 1982 that I became the classroom teacher negotiator and spokesman for pay increases(receiving no monetary compensation), I was able to get almost 95% support in a signed petition from teachers(predominantly female) throughout our school district. Yet, when I was to actually make the presentation before our School Board on all teacher's behalf, all teachers were invited to this pivitol meeting. The vast majority of teachers failed to stand with me in support for the actual presentation. Before the School Board meeting actually started, I could see from a window teacher cars slowing down out front as if they were about to stop and turn into the parking lot and, then, they would almost "peel out" scurrying away before completing their turn as if to avoid being identified as some rebel or troublemaker.
Although my 5 year plan was originally rejected by the board, once the next administration came to power, this plan for teacher pay raises was accomplished in less than 5 years and salaries were at the level projected in my original proposal. Only a handful of female teachers regardless of race were brave enough to stand with me, their co-worker and representative, when they were most needed to be present. If nothing else, I feel the sheer numbers of teachers could have provided enough intimidation to our School Board that my negotiations could have possibly succeeded on the first attempt. Besides me as a white male, my support from the administrative staff was comprised mostly of white males with a few white females (with limited racial diversity in both groups) and they were in total support at the time of the proposed pay raises for teachers(black and white mostly females district-wide).
So again, I must conclude in my own personal experience as a white gay male that not all in power(regardless of race or sex) are there expressly to subjugate and marginalize..."whether by economic means or physical violence." I would suggest that there are exceptions to this mindset, if you would look for them and not assume the worst. Probably the exceptions along the way are way too few, but they do exist. Sometimes you have to think outside the box and then precede as if the normal obstacles do not exist. After all, life is not always fair in all circumstances.
Respectfully submitted,
Cumrag27, aka Stimpy
