Comments on: Straight White Men And Identity

By: Rye

Rye — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 19:21:04 +0000

This idea that specifically white males experience a detachment in respect to “other” cultures or races is absurd when you move beyond the United States and see the interplay dynamics which occur in every other country in the world.
The word “other” or the prescribing of an identifying adjective before indicating the subsets we categorize people into is always present when there exists a demographic majority and its subsequent minorities. We are one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world that still has a large demographic majority, this makes the contrasts in our cultural make-up that much more visible, especially since we don’t actively repress these cultures as you see in the majority of other countries.
It is doubtful that a chinese male reflects upon himself in terms of identity, gender, race and orientation, especially in respect to the other cultures that he encounters since he doesn’t ever encounter any. Most countries are culturally homogenous and given their sheer numbers, the white male is by no means the “every man” faceless and cultureless in the world.

By: tec

tec — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:31:44 +0000

I think that you hit a major point about living in a diverse city. Living in Kansas City, I’ve noticed a very distinct difference in the behaviors and attitudes regarding diversity between the inner city and the suburbs. As a lesbian, I’ve not had any issues being myself in KC proper, but just 20 minutes down the road in Grandview, lesbians are being kicked out of restaraunts (http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/16913352.htm.)

By: Adam B

Adam B — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 18:25:58 +0000

being a gay, white male, what i consider the convert minority, i’m able to go through different groups, seeing how different people are when they think “the others” aren’t around. i live in jacksonville, fl, which is very much torn between becoming a major, progressive city, and the backwater hicktown that it is known for.

the majority of people who i hang out with are artsy-fartsy, so there really isn’t much difference between the straight people and the gay people. really, a couple of drinks is often the only difference. these folks, white, black, gay, straight, male, female, they all seem to *get* other people, and respect the idea of equality for all, and all that stuff. ideas like gay marriage seem so utterly obvious that it is assumed.

where i work, though, is entirely different. i work in a government office, and the majority of the support staff are not exactly highly educated, or understanding of others. the racist bullshit is amazing. never direct words, like nigger, more stuff like “that type of person,” or “them.” also, every once in a while, i run across a person who hasn’t figured out the whole adam is gay thing, and they will spout out some silly nonsense that they are later very embarrassed about.

it’s almost as if i live in a blue state and a red state at the same time.