9 Places—Other Than the Oscars—Where It’s Really Good to Be a Straight, White Man

Here are just a few other examples of times and places where it’s really much better to be a straight, white man:

1. At Work

Earning roughly 22 percent more income just for being a man is pretty fantastic, but it isn’t just the gender-based wage gap that makes being a white man at the workplace advantageous: There’s also a substantial and persistent racial wage gap across all industries. Being a white man at the workplace also means you’ll be judged much less harshly for your clothing choices, and that your superiors are unlikely to worry that your performance will suffer if you decide to have children. Plus, if you fail to perform well, no one will blame it on your race or gender (or assume that everyone else of your race and gender shares your personal failings)—and conversely, if you rise to a position of prominence, it’s likely that no one will assume it’s just because of diversity mandates, or because you slept your way to the top. Lastly (though we could go on…), if you’re straight, you don’t have to hide your sexual orientation for fear of being fired over it—unlike LGBT employees in most U.S. states.

2. On Public Transportation

When it comes to taking public transit, the world is pretty much your oyster if you’re a white man: In addition to generally being permitted to take up as much space as you like at the expense of others’ comfort via manspreading (that infamous legs-wide-open stance which, btw, ladies are now being encouraged to occasionally try out, too, for health reasons), a 2014 Australian study also found that bus drivers are twice as likely to give white passengers a free ride if they’re short on bus fare than they are black passengers in the same situation.

3. When Receiving Medical Care

If you’re lucky enough to have been born a white man, you’ll be able to get birth control that works for your body without a prescription at any corner store, and healthcare catered specifically to your body’s reproductive system will be available to you at your primary care facility—rather than relegated to separate clinics that are regularly attacked by domestic terrorists. As a white person, you’ll be much more likely to have access to healthcare to begin with than a person of color—and to receive superior care because of your race—and you’ll also benefit from the fact that doctors are more likely to take your pain seriously and develop an effective course of treatment than they would if you were a woman. Plus, you’ll get the privilege of not having to fear that a doctor might sexually abuse you while you’re unconscious on an operating table.

4. In High School

Being a white male in high school is pretty much the best: Your teachers assume you’re better at math and science, and, as research says, will give you better grades just because you’re a dude, making it easier for you to one day get a lucrative STEM job; you’re significantly less likely to be harshly disciplined or labeled as a “troublemaker” for minor shenanigans than students of color are; if you sleep around you’ll be praised for it rather than slut-shamed; and you’re able to wear just about whatever you want without being made to feel ashamed or objectified, or forced by lecherous administrators to cover up your body.

5. On a College Campus

If you’re a man on campus, you’ll probably be lucky enough to never receive a lecture on how to best avoid being among the one quarter of college women who are raped on campus (let alone a lecture on how to not rape anyone, for that matter). If you’re a white man, you won’t have to worry about your academic career being negatively impacted by racially biased administrators, and if you go to a prestigious school, you also won’t have to worry about people assuming you only got in thanks to affirmative action. And it isn’t just better to be a man on campus for students: Male professors also get higher ratings from students because of their gender, which ultimately makes it easier for them to excel in their fields and secure tenure.

6. When Making Purchases—Big or Small

In addition to paying more for identical everyday items that are marketed towards women, thanks to the “pink tax,” research has also revealed that negotiations are stacked against women—which means that despite earning more money, white men often get much better deals on large purchases like cars, houses, appliances, and appliances.

7. At Job Interviews

Studies have found that employers looking at resumes are 50 percent more likely to call candidates with names that sound white than they are candidates with identical resumes and names that sound traditionally black. White men also have the advantage of not having to anticipate working to overcome implicit gender bias from interviewers to be able to prove their abilities and make a good first impression.

8. While Being Single

It’s good to be single when you’re a guy. You’re more likely to be lauded than criticized for having an active sex life. As a white man, you won’t have to worry about encountering any of the racism that runs rampant on many dating sites, and you can go on dates with strangers without being afraid for your safety or having to put an elaborate safety plan in place with friends. If you want to date someone younger, you’re more likely to be patted on the back than judged, and as you get older, it’s unlikely that anyone (outside your great aunt) will pressure you to find a mate and settle down, or remind you that your biological clock is ticking. (Bonus privilege: You do have a biological clock, but no one takes the liberty of reminding you about it.)

9. On Basically Any Evening While Walking Down The Street

If you plan to walk on a sidewalk in a public place, it’s definitely best to do so as a white man. Studies have found that 65 percent of American women report experiencing some type of street harassment in their lifetimes, with an additional 40 percent reporting physical harassment like being touched or followed by strangers on the street. People of color, low-income people, and LGBT people are disproportionately affected by street harassment and the emotional toll it takes, while white men enjoy the privilege of not having to consider street harassment when making decisions about what to wear, where to go and with whom, or what time of day to go out for a walk.