Last week, one of my anthropology professors gave a lecture about how the sexism that exists in street gangs is a magnified version of the sexism that exists in society as a whole. Any sexual double standard in a college student’s life is present in a street gang, but multiplied by ten: walking the fine line between being a slut and a prude, being expected to be tough enough to get respect but “feminine” enough to be attractive, etc. Just like in society as a whole, gang girls perpetuate many of these double standards just as much as the males do.
There’s one phenomenon in which I think men deserve most of the blame, though. In gangs, there’s a “no dating the enemy” rule, but men can usually date members of rival gangs without reproach. Female gang members, however, are often beaten up or killed for it because they’re supposedly giving away their gang’s secrets, either on purpose or by accident. If a man dates a member of a rival gang, he’s the one masterfully sucking information and secrets from the enemy. Because men always think with the big head in these situations. They never get played by women. Right.
Anyway, my (male) professor was apparently contemplating society at large when he added:
“On a side note, if men gave birth, abortions would be sacrament. It’s only controversial because women have them.”
I thought to myself, You know what? He is so right.
