posted by jmog
I will give 2 examples, 1 from my dad 40 years ago, and one from me 20 years ago.
My dad, almost 40 years ago, wanted to switch careers and be a firemen/EMT. He scored 2nd on a combination of all the tests among all the people that went through the program. The fire department was only hiring 2 firemen at the time. So if they were hiring the two best candidates, my dad would have been a firemen. However, because of affirmative action only one of the two new hires could be a white male. Since the one person that scored better than him was also a white male, my dad lost the job to a lower scoring minority.
About 24 years ago I started college. When it comes to engineering scholarships are typically all about math/science grades and math/science parts of the ACT (math if you only took SAT). My GPA (math science) and ACT (math science) were actually perfect scores (straight As in grades, 36s on math/science). It earned me a full tuition paid scholarship for engineering. An african american girl in my class (who was an amazing person, we were great friends, so this is nothing against her) didn't have the same grades or ACT scores. She had not only full tuition, but full room and board, plus a living stipend so she didn't have to work through school. I had to work 2 and 3 part time jobs to have spending money. She even thought it was appalling that she got a lot more than I did scholarship wise. I personally told her that she needed it (she also was a single mother). Even though I also needed it (had a wife and kid by the time I graduated). So she got extra scholarships not based on merit, but based on the color of her skin vs mine.
If you don't believe there is discrimination out there against Caucasian males, then you aren't paying much attention.
And lets not even start on the false sexual assault accusations that end a college kids career just based on the statement of the female. No evidence needed.
Ohhh we are doing story time. Ok I have some. Although, citing something 40 years ago and 20 years ago is not really relevant to today, but hey I understand.
I grew up in Southern Ohio and as a white male from the Appalachian area, I was able to receive some additional Pell grants to head to Ohio State. If I did not have those programs, I would have had more student debt. I also had to work close to a full time job through college. So, there is one example as a white male, I was able to use a program. Granted it was regional, it was still great and useful. I'll also note the Pell grant has been gutted over the years where it is largely ineffective.
I'll cite some recent examples where my wife had some let's say issues that as a white male, I do not have to put up with.
1. Name change. My wife did not take my last name and it was for one big reason: Her professional license and her family business. If my wife changed her name to mine, she would have had to reapply in Ohio for her professional business and also change every form to do it. Also, she is the legal next in line to take over the family business, and the state would have had her go through extra steps if she would have changed her name. So, it was easier for her to not change her name. As a male, I never had to even think of that.
2. Legal documents. We just recently closed on a house. Guess what, on all the legal documents, the man's name and title is listed first and is given preference over the woman. Even if the wife is the breadwinner in the household. I had to sign off first or was given the default option.
There are other legal documents and issues over the years we have noticed that as well.
As my wife says in jest sometimes, it is because you are a man it is easier. We are having the same issues as we move over license, title and car tags.
3. Name change example number 2. My mom has kept her married name for years, even after divorcing my biological father in the 80s. She could never change her name back growing up because the state of Ohio required both parties to sign off on her changing her name back. That law changed some years ago and so she was able to finally change her name back. I'll also note it was a pain the ass for her to do that. Again, something as a male, I never have to deal with.
I think there is bias of all sorts in the system, and there are even examples where yes it does include white men, but to dismiss any of them I think is a little short sighted. The saying of you don't know a peron's perspective until you walk in their shoes applies here.