Assumptions

[teddywolf]

When people look at me, they see a man.
Obviously I earn decent money
Obviously I have not been raped, let alone sexually harassed
Obviously I will demean women without a second thought
'Cause ain't I a man?

When people look at me, they see a white man.
Obviously I have not been discriminated against
Obviously I live only with other white people
Obviously I am dangerous
Because I am The Man, right?

When people look at me, they see a large white man.
Obviously my broad shoulders mean I'm strong
Obviously I have never been bullied
Obviously I eat too much fast food
What else do you expect from a large white man?

When people first hear me, they hear a normative large white man.
Obviously I am a Christian
Obviously I have a college degree, probably advanced
Obviously I'm socially involved
I must be as normal as an apple.

When people see me walk, they watch a normative, large, generally-healthy white man.
Obviously I am not in pain
Obviously I am not sick
Obviously I am mentally stable
I'm such a healthy, healthy man.

I have suffered in my life.
You have suffered too
and I will not deny your suffering.
That is my assumption.

I don't assume that you assume all of the above
but you may.
Some of your assumptions may be correct.
But.
Even if you know me
Even if you know me well
Even if you know for sure, I have one charge for you:

Question your assumptions.

Comments

[browngirl.livejournal.com]

Have you heard any societal assumptions about a man being raped? Simple question on a touchy and triggery subject.

Alas, I have, some truly horrible ones, such as that it's impossible for a man to be heterosexually raped, that men only get raped in prison, and that that's a deserved consequence of getting put in jail.

More hopefully, when I volunteered at The Women's Center in Cambridge, they had some resources there geared specifically towards men as well as an emphasis on making many available to men that people wouldn't've thought of, due to the center's name and focus.