The following may not be what you have usually read about Male Privilege. My purpose is not to deny your experience but to provide another perspective.

It is currently thought that misogyny starts near the moment of birth for most boys. Shortly after birth, 70% of American boys have the privilege of being circumcised compared to 4% in Great Britain. Is it any wonder that over 15 million men are impotent and another 12 million lack sexual desire?

Men have the privilege to grow in a society that encourages boys to "be tough". Dads and moms buy war toys. And, 64% of adolescent boys hit or beat-up another kid in the past year. In their lifetime, one in five men will spend a night in jail and men represent 70% of the prison population. Men also have the unique privilege of expecting to willing give up their life to protect others. There are currently 78M Missing in Action from World War II and 3M from Viet Nam. More than 25% of Viet Vets suffer from PTSD. And, because men are encouraged and expected to do the dangerous and risky jobs, 97% of industrial deaths and disabling accidents happen to men. 30 of every 1000 minors and 60 of every 1000 farmers died or were disabled on the job in one single year. And, while it is the privilege of men to give up 5 years of their life versus women, if they've been encouraged into pro-football, they will die 14 years earlier. And, if it's pro-boxing that they've been told "makes a real man", 87% of them will suffer brain damage. With all of this, a man has the district privilege of 5 fewer years to enjoy life, 5 years less to enjoy their kids, 5 years less to enjoy their grand children, if at all, and 5 years less to play. If a man makes it to retirement, he'll die an average of 2 years later.

Men have been encouraged to "burn to mid-night oil" or the "candle at both ends" at work for that chance at the executive carrot that fewer than 10% of men will get. And, of all the baseball players who sign a pro contract, fewer than 10% will ever play in a major league game.

It has been the privilege of men to become big boys who don't cry. The average man cries 1.4 times a month to 5.3 for women. The average American man touches another human being 6-8 times a day, 4-6 of them sexual. The average Spanish man touches another human being over 100 times a day, 6-8 of them sexual. While men take twice as long to commit in relationship, only 20% of them file for divorce and 80% of them say they would marry their former wives if they had it to do over (versus only 50% of the women). So, in divorce, 58% of the men say they are happier compared to 85% of the women and, if it happens, they will suffer 3 times more depression, and 2 times more illness. And, while still seen by most courts as having sole financial responsibility for the needs of the family, no matter what, 80% of the 8 million new jobs created since 1980 have gone to women. Is it any wonder that men represent 75% of the mental ward population. And, while only representing 30% of suicide attempts, men represent 70% of successful suicides.

While this is not meant to defend men's past actions and expects them to be accountable for them, this does lead one to think that maybe they aren't the only ones creating the world that provides this privilege. Would you trade places?

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