When we talk about ‘structural advantages’ or ‘systemic discrimination’, the finger points one way, and one way only. We say it’s men and boys who are exclusively privileged, politically advantaged, cruising through life on easy mode, within a world designed just for them. Often this discussion is riddled with vague and yet highly dramatic language; making bland, blanket assertions about ‘boys clubs’, and ‘rigged systems’ and ‘patriarchy’. And other excitable ideas that too often fail to identify any actual systems, laws, policies or bias governmental structures at all. So to correct this, I’ve taken four areas that I believe are central to an American’s well being; education, health, work and safety, and highlighted the loped sided structural advantages in each, and who they are hurting, or helping. Because it’s easy to fall back to catch phrases about 'who built the system' (yes it’s mostly men), but isn’t the more pertinent question – who is the system built for? ~ [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] Images by Gradienta and Mathias Reading on Unsplash

2023-01-22