Response to “Through the Lens of Race”- Ann Arnett

In “Through the Lens of Race,” Settles, Pratt-Hyatt, and Buchanan looked at how White women and Black women experience Gender-Based Mistreatment, Perceived Advantage, Friendship, Community and Caretaking, as well as Work and Family Options. Perceived Advantage focuses on the advantages that women seem to have over men. While reading this, I would have to say it is true. Although women face gender discrimination, when put in certain circumstances, they are excused or given benefits for being female. Some of these are “female-only scholarships, accessibility to certain jobs… , protection from male relatives and friends, and acts of male chivalry…” They wrote that White women experienced this more than Black women. As a woman, I would have to say that it is definitely true that women gain some benefits from being female. The past two times I have been pulled over by the police while driving, I have not been given a ticket. This is obviously very lucky for me, but it wasn’t because they just decided to let me off the hook. I didn't get a ticket because I am a female. They look at me and see some helpless little girl who didn’t know any better, and therefore I am let off with a warning and no ticket. If I had been a man, I would have definitely gotten a ticket. This is something that is holding us back from gender equality. Although I did enjoy benefiting from being a woman, it is still us allowing men to treat us as if we are innocent creatures that have to be protected by them. It is perpetuating the idea that men are the leaders and protectors of the world.