Following a discussion about my work (via email), Martin Firrell mentioned that he is looking to start a project based around the theme of 'Straight White Male'. He mentioned that he would like to commission me to create a piece for this project, if it goes ahead, so I decided to start thinking about the theme.
I think this theme is really interesting, as well as controversial and relevant. I find it interesting that Martin would like me to create a piece of work to this theme, seeing as I am a bisexual woman. However, I like the idea of getting work from people who are not straight white men, because it gives different points of view on what it means to be labelled a straight white man.
The term straight white male seems at first glance to be purely factual. It's just stating facts about someone, right? Well apparently not. As Arwa Mahdawi from The Guardian explains, some people (lets face it, mainly straight white men) think that it has become an insult.
Kimmel rightly points out that straight white men (SWM) continue to dominate the world, or at least the western world. Mahdawi provides statistical evidence to back up this claim, highlighting the disparity between SWM and everyone else in Britain.
Today, in politically correct 21st-century Britain, you might think things would have changed, but somehow the Great White Male has thrived and continues to colonize the high-status, high-earning, high-power roles (93 percent of executive directors in the UK are white men; 77 percent of parliament is male).
So, while some people may find the term to be offensive, it is clear that being a straight white male is still the ideal. Having the luck to be born that way instantly paves the way for some kind of success. For example, as a SWM, you are more likely to become CEO of a company and less likely to be arrested or killed by police.
Furthermore, the viewpoint of the SWM dominates society. Straight, white men are represented more than any other demographic, meaning they have an advantage over every other group because they are seen as the default.
When looking at mainstream media like films and movies, men are, unsurprisingly, shown the most. For example,
Additionally,
These figures show how, in mainstream media, straight white men were the most represented demographic in 2018. But why is this? It may have something to do with the people behind the movies themselves, since most directors and cinematographers are also men.
Overall, it is clear to see that the Straight, White Man is a person with privilege. This does not mean that they don't face any struggles, but it does mean that they were lucky enough to be born with an automatic advantage over the rest of us. I think it is important to highlight this disparity, and try to push for change. We don't want to diminish the achievements of SWM, or to erase them in any way, but we do want to shine the spotlight on other demographics, giving them the representation they also deserve. I personally, do not believe the term Straight White Male is an insult, although I am not straight, nor male, so cannot say that it may not be considered offensive by those who are. However, I do believe that the reason these people may find the term offensive, find it to be that way because they don't like being told that part of the reason they are successful is down to the colour of their skin, their sexuality and/or their gender. As long as they are able to recognise their privilege, use their natural platform to represent other demographics and not take advantage of their status, there is nothing wrong with straight white men.
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