How male privilege made me a feminist | Dane Woodland | TEDxYouth@StJohns

I thought that transitioning from female

I thought that transitioning from female to male would make my life harder but it

to male would make my life harder but it

to male would make my life harder but it made things easier from an early age I

made things easier from an early age I

made things easier from an early age I was made to understand what was

was made to understand what was

was made to understand what was considered ladylike and what was not one

considered ladylike and what was not one

considered ladylike and what was not one of my first experiences with this was

of my first experiences with this was

of my first experiences with this was when I wanted to quit hrithik gymnastics

when I wanted to quit hrithik gymnastics

when I wanted to quit hrithik gymnastics and join ice hockey one sport was highly

and join ice hockey one sport was highly

and join ice hockey one sport was highly feminized had mostly female participants

feminized had mostly female participants

feminized had mostly female participants and the other was male-dominated I had a

and the other was male-dominated I had a

and the other was male-dominated I had a similar experience when I wanted to join

similar experience when I wanted to join

similar experience when I wanted to join beavers and Cubs into instead of Sparks

beavers and Cubs into instead of Sparks

beavers and Cubs into instead of Sparks and brownies in both cases I was told

and brownies in both cases I was told

and brownies in both cases I was told that I couldn’t or shouldn’t because I

that I couldn’t or shouldn’t because I

that I couldn’t or shouldn’t because I was a girl my gender continued to affect

was a girl my gender continued to affect

was a girl my gender continued to affect my life in different ways and I didn’t

my life in different ways and I didn’t

my life in different ways and I didn’t recognize what was going on all I knew

recognize what was going on all I knew

recognize what was going on all I knew was that I was limited because I was a

was that I was limited because I was a

was that I was limited because I was a girl and I accepted this I didn’t see

girl and I accepted this I didn’t see

girl and I accepted this I didn’t see the injustice at the time when I first

the injustice at the time when I first

the injustice at the time when I first learned about feminism I thought that

learned about feminism I thought that

learned about feminism I thought that the movement was unnecessary I knew that

the movement was unnecessary I knew that

the movement was unnecessary I knew that throughout history women had been denied

throughout history women had been denied

throughout history women had been denied the right to vote to obtain an education

the right to vote to obtain an education

the right to vote to obtain an education to find certain jobs but I also knew

to find certain jobs but I also knew

to find certain jobs but I also knew that these issues had since been

that these issues had since been

that these issues had since been remedied I didn’t understand why

remedied I didn’t understand why

remedied I didn’t understand why feminists were still rallying for change

feminists were still rallying for change

feminists were still rallying for change and I thought they just need to get over

and I thought they just need to get over

and I thought they just need to get over it when I began my gender transition

it when I began my gender transition

it when I began my gender transition I studied the men around me I wanted to

I studied the men around me I wanted to

I studied the men around me I wanted to fit in but very quickly I recognized

fit in but very quickly I recognized

fit in but very quickly I recognized that I did not want to become the

that I did not want to become the

that I did not want to become the embodiment of masculinity

embodiment of masculinity

embodiment of masculinity as I settled into my gender identity I

as I settled into my gender identity I

as I settled into my gender identity I didn’t like the way that men mocked and

didn’t like the way that men mocked and

didn’t like the way that men mocked and belittled the interests of women I

belittled the interests of women I

belittled the interests of women I didn’t like the use of the word girl or

didn’t like the use of the word girl or

didn’t like the use of the word girl or girly as an insult but in particular I

girly as an insult but in particular I

girly as an insult but in particular I noticed the way that my gender affected

noticed the way that my gender affected

noticed the way that my gender affected my work as a personal trainer suddenly I

my work as a personal trainer suddenly I

my work as a personal trainer suddenly I had the respect of all the male gym

had the respect of all the male gym

had the respect of all the male gym goers they wanted my advice and I had a

goers they wanted my advice and I had a

goers they wanted my advice and I had a newfound confidence in sharing it I went

newfound confidence in sharing it I went

newfound confidence in sharing it I went from being strong for a girl to just

from being strong for a girl to just

from being strong for a girl to just strong but I also noticed that female

strong but I also noticed that female

strong but I also noticed that female gym goers were much less likely to

gym goers were much less likely to

gym goers were much less likely to approach me smile at me and even make

approach me smile at me and even make

approach me smile at me and even make eye contact and I have since recognized

eye contact and I have since recognized

eye contact and I have since recognized that this is a method of ensuring safety

that this is a method of ensuring safety

that this is a method of ensuring safety because sometimes something as simple as

because sometimes something as simple as

because sometimes something as simple as a smile can be misread as an invitation

a smile can be misread as an invitation

a smile can be misread as an invitation I continue to notice these several

I continue to notice these several

I continue to notice these several differences in my life almost every day

differences in my life almost every day

differences in my life almost every day because of my gender identity but one of

because of my gender identity but one of

because of my gender identity but one of the most gripping experiences I ever had

the most gripping experiences I ever had

the most gripping experiences I ever had was when I caught myself running into my

was when I caught myself running into my

was when I caught myself running into my apartment after a night at work I

apartment after a night at work I

apartment after a night at work I remember thinking I almost looked so

remember thinking I almost looked so

remember thinking I almost looked so foolish I’m a grown man moving with fear

foolish I’m a grown man moving with fear

foolish I’m a grown man moving with fear I’ve got my keys in my hands and I’m

I’ve got my keys in my hands and I’m

I’ve got my keys in my hands and I’m ready to defend against an assailant

ready to defend against an assailant

ready to defend against an assailant when I realized what was going on my

when I realized what was going on my

when I realized what was going on my privilege hit me like a ton of bricks as

privilege hit me like a ton of bricks as

privilege hit me like a ton of bricks as a woman in Newfoundland and Labrador I

a woman in Newfoundland and Labrador I

a woman in Newfoundland and Labrador I was four times more likely to be a

was four times more likely to be a

was four times more likely to be a victim of harassment than I am as a man

victim of harassment than I am as a man

victim of harassment than I am as a man as a woman I would always walk with my

as a woman I would always walk with my

as a woman I would always walk with my keys in my hands I would cross the

keys in my hands I would cross the

keys in my hands I would cross the street if I was walking alone and

street if I was walking alone and

street if I was walking alone and approaching someone that I didn’t know I

approaching someone that I didn’t know I

approaching someone that I didn’t know I would never ever go anywhere that was

would never ever go anywhere that was

would never ever go anywhere that was dark and secluded and sometimes I would

dark and secluded and sometimes I would

dark and secluded and sometimes I would even call her

even call her

even call her a family member to comfort me as I

a family member to comfort me as I

a family member to comfort me as I walked alone following my top surgery I

walked alone following my top surgery I

walked alone following my top surgery I posted a side-by-side picture on my

posted a side-by-side picture on my

posted a side-by-side picture on my Instagram account I’m one side before

Instagram account I’m one side before

Instagram account I’m one side before the surgery with female nipples attached

the surgery with female nipples attached

the surgery with female nipples attached to breasts society tells us that these

to breasts society tells us that these

to breasts society tells us that these have to be blurred out on the other side

have to be blurred out on the other side

have to be blurred out on the other side after the surgery with uncensored male

after the surgery with uncensored male

after the surgery with uncensored male nipples in a two hour operation the very

nipples in a two hour operation the very

nipples in a two hour operation the very same nipples went from being socially

same nipples went from being socially

same nipples went from being socially inappropriate to socially acceptable

inappropriate to socially acceptable

inappropriate to socially acceptable simply because they were no longer

simply because they were no longer

simply because they were no longer associated with being a girl this was a

associated with being a girl this was a

associated with being a girl this was a true awakening to the arbitrary nature

true awakening to the arbitrary nature

true awakening to the arbitrary nature of gender bias although we know that

of gender bias although we know that

of gender bias although we know that gender-based discrimination is unfounded

gender-based discrimination is unfounded

gender-based discrimination is unfounded the impacts are devastating as a woman I

the impacts are devastating as a woman I

the impacts are devastating as a woman I felt limited by both myself and others

felt limited by both myself and others

felt limited by both myself and others because of my perceived gender I knew

because of my perceived gender I knew

because of my perceived gender I knew not to assert myself to avoid certain

not to assert myself to avoid certain

not to assert myself to avoid certain places and I knew not to chase certain

places and I knew not to chase certain

places and I knew not to chase certain dreams as a man I feel that I can no

dreams as a man I feel that I can no

dreams as a man I feel that I can no longer be open about my emotional needs

longer be open about my emotional needs

longer be open about my emotional needs I fear that I’m gonna be pulled into

I fear that I’m gonna be pulled into

I fear that I’m gonna be pulled into physical violence because it’s more

physical violence because it’s more

physical violence because it’s more acceptable for guys to settle things

acceptable for guys to settle things

acceptable for guys to settle things with their fists and I’ve been told that

with their fists and I’ve been told that

with their fists and I’ve been told that I now have to follow what’s called boy

I now have to follow what’s called boy

I now have to follow what’s called boy rules as a man I feel that I have to

rules as a man I feel that I have to

rules as a man I feel that I have to participate in the objectification of

participate in the objectification of

participate in the objectification of women if I want to fit in and

women if I want to fit in and

women if I want to fit in and masculinity tells me that it’s not okay

masculinity tells me that it’s not okay

masculinity tells me that it’s not okay to admit that I can’t do something and

to admit that I can’t do something and

to admit that I can’t do something and that I should never ask for help it

that I should never ask for help it

that I should never ask for help it seems as though the pursuit of this

seems as though the pursuit of this

seems as though the pursuit of this masculine ideal is hurting us all

although I have had some losses in terms

although I have had some losses in terms of acceptable behavior through my gender

of acceptable behavior through my gender

of acceptable behavior through my gender transition my gains in male priviledge

transition my gains in male priviledge

transition my gains in male priviledge far outweigh those losses this is not

far outweigh those losses this is not

far outweigh those losses this is not something that I wanted but it does put

something that I wanted but it does put

something that I wanted but it does put me in a position where my voice may be

me in a position where my voice may be

me in a position where my voice may be heard more clearly for someone with male

heard more clearly for someone with male

heard more clearly for someone with male privilege it is essential to become

privilege it is essential to become

privilege it is essential to become uncomfortable with the inequalities that

uncomfortable with the inequalities that

uncomfortable with the inequalities that exist and to care about the subtle ways

exist and to care about the subtle ways

exist and to care about the subtle ways that we perpetuate sexism on a daily

that we perpetuate sexism on a daily

that we perpetuate sexism on a daily basis it’s one thing to say that you’re

basis it’s one thing to say that you’re

basis it’s one thing to say that you’re not a sexist and to sit by comfortably

not a sexist and to sit by comfortably

not a sexist and to sit by comfortably as a bystander who continues to benefit

as a bystander who continues to benefit

as a bystander who continues to benefit from gender inequality it’s another

from gender inequality it’s another

from gender inequality it’s another thing altogether to challenge the ways

thing altogether to challenge the ways

thing altogether to challenge the ways that sexism is woven into our society

that sexism is woven into our society

that sexism is woven into our society it’s time to unpack these stereotypes be

it’s time to unpack these stereotypes be

it’s time to unpack these stereotypes be considerate of the individual

considerate of the individual

considerate of the individual experiences of others and leverage any

experiences of others and leverage any

experiences of others and leverage any privileges that we might have for change

privileges that we might have for change

privileges that we might have for change your gender doesn’t define you you do