'It's because he's a man'

I liked our discussion about male privileged in Thursday's class. Although I do not remember all of the details, there was one instance that came into mind that I recalled from a few years ago. I remember my mom getting all frustrated on the phone - I think she was trying to cancel a credit card, or get a fee waved or something of that nature. Then I remember her telling my dad to call the company, and the company complied no problem, and my dad got the job done. I also remember my mom saying 'It's because he's a man'. That was something that definitely stuck with me. I feel that there is still a stigma in our society that men have the authority, and women still struggle to be taken seriously. This must stem from traditional gender roles that have been prevalent throughout history: the man is the protector and provider; and the woman is the nurturer - the soft-spoken angel of the house. While there is this stigma out in the world, I feel as though the home itself is a different story. For me, and most people I know, the mom is the stricter more authoritarian parent, not the father. It seems funny how a female can have so much control in the house, even over their husbands, and they still can't be taken completely seriously in every day situations outside of the home. I wonder why this happens.

Meredith Cotter, Post #16