The Straight White Male Activist

If you take a look at some of my previous posts on this blog, you’ll notice that I often talk about feminism, GLBTQ issues and racism. It should come as no surprise that I’m not shy about being a feminist or that I’m quick to point out homophobia, racism and other intolerant bullshit. You could say that I’m an activist, although I don’t do nearly as much about it as some people do. Unfortunately, there’s one thing that makes me feel kind of guilty sometimes. I may be a feminist and GLBTQ ally who rails against racism and bigotry, but I’m also a heterosexual white male. It’s not that I feel particularly guilty about being a heterosexual white male; it’s that sometimes I’m worried that I might become part of the problem instead of the solution.

I’m probably not making a whole lot of sense to some of you, but hear me out. One could argue that it’s easier for a member of a persecuted minority to engage in activism because they are standing up for their own rights as well as the rights of others. Unfortunately, since society still doesn’t treat certain minorities with much respect, some of this activism falls on deaf ears. Society is still largely dominated by heterosexual white males who have probably never experienced the bigotry that women, people of color, the GLBTQ community and other minority groups experience on a regular basis. Many are blind to the problems that minorities face every day, so they don’t understand why activism is so important. Some laugh off efforts to make positive changes, while others are openly hostile. Many others just choose not to see the plight of anybody who isn’t like them. In the end, they resist any positive changes that people try to make, which is why activism can be so difficult.

However, every so often you can find straight white males who are on board with an activist cause. They are right there on the picket lines standing up for persecuted minorities, and since they are members of the dominant culture, people take notice. Suddenly, a cause that may have been ridiculed or ignored has some validity. If these “normal” guys are standing up for it, it must be important after all.

Personally, I have a huge problem with this. I don’t have a problem with straight white male activists since I think standing up for social justice is always admirable. What I have a problem with is this notion that minorities need to be “saved” by the dominant culture. Whenever a straight white male openly stands for something, I can practically feel people’s minds changing in ways that just don’t happen when anybody else stands for the same issue. Yes, it’s great that it grabs people’s attention, but in a way it also contributes to the bigotry inherent in society. It tells me that the only people that matter are the straight white males, and the only things that matter are the things that are important to them. Meanwhile, any causes that don’t find the right champions are kept on the fringes of society where they remain invisible.

This is something that I’ve been struggling with. I am a straight white male who stands up for causes that don’t affect other straight white males. I may not have a lot of influence, but people will be more willing to listen to what I have to say just because of who I am. I could look at this as using my white privilege for a good cause, but I can’t help thinking that I’m contributing to the bigotry inherent in our society.

Activists shouldn’t need straight white guys like myself to validate their causes. Sadly, mainstream society often says otherwise, and I don’t know how that’s going to change. It’s really a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” scenario. Straight white culture is still considered the norm, and lots of people will reject anybody who doesn’t fit into the norm. It’s sad and frustrating, and I wish I could say that things could be different.

So, what does all of this mean for me? Well, I’m certainly not going to give up standing up for what I believe in. I can’t do that any more than I can change who I am. I’m also not going to tell other straight white males to turn their backs on other activist causes. I just think we need to be conscious of this sad and frustrating fact while working towards a future where everyone is respected and nobody needs to be “saved” by a dominant culture.