Why Feminism Matters.

I have a conceit that, maybe, because I am trans or because I am just an unusually keen observer of behaviour and of people that I am unusually well placed to observe the sometimes subtle misogyny and male privilege that infests our society.

Men (and often women) treat mean and women differently. They show men deference and respect women are subordinated in every interaction of consequence. Women's opinions are never first solicited when a man's is available. Even our built environment is designed for average male height and strength. Try accompanying a man to a shop or restaurant, who does the assistant attempt to serve first? Try reaching for an item from a desk or shelf, then watch as a man does the same thing. Pay attention to the patterns of conversation that you have with men then compare it to the conversations you have with women. How often are you the object of a joke? How often are you able to dissent from an opinion? How much to get to speak?

These behaviours are subtle and, in my experience, unnoticed until they are pointed out. Inequality is most easily expressed in statistics of violence, pay and employment but even if you have a job that pays well, even if you have not been subject to violence we are still forced into a societal role of domination or submissiveness, we are still being discriminated against, whatever sex you are.