General Discussion

MattBaggins

(7,905 posts)

34. I am a white male nurse

Sat Jul 11, 2015, 03:19 AM

Jul 2015

Back as nursing student in clinicals I witnessed a rep for a feeding pump ask the girls if any of them knew who the charge nurse was. I walked up wearing the same fucking student uniform and yet he took one look and said "oh you must be in charge".

I have started losing count how many times I walk into a room with female doctors or higher nurses, male doctors who are not white, other minority nurses... and every single time the patients talk to me first. Every time.

One incident with a female Filipina doctor asking an AA patient questions and he ignored her and directed all answers and follow up questions to me.

Have had little old ladies singing my praises pretty much just because I am male. Go into a room with a group of females to help someone and at the end have the patient thanking me for being such a great help even if I was just standing there observing.

I have only once ever been pulled over by a cop just for him to talk to me. I was driving a minivan with kids and he was concerned I was showing signs of driving fatigued. Drove one time from NY to the upper peninsulas of Mich with a minority friend. Got pulled over three time just to get harassed about "why we were there".

I simply can not understand people who deny white/male privilege.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

41 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

If you are white, do you take advantage of the benefits of being white? [View all] el_bryanto Jul 2015 OP

If you're white you have benefits for being so without lifting a finger, they are Jefferson23 Jul 2015 #1

being born white confers privilege IMO...esp. in the South...but anywhere really... CTyankee Jul 2015 #37

No of course not whatthehey Jul 2015 #2

I apologize for offending you - I was thinking more in terms of work preference el_bryanto Jul 2015 #3

not offended just a) can't avoid advantage without magic powers whatthehey Jul 2015 #6

Same here. bettyellen Jul 2015 #16

Wondering too. Starry Messenger Jul 2015 #18

I suppose being given a promotion because I am seen as more "professional" or el_bryanto Jul 2015 #21

I.havent.used.my.miles.yet. KittyWampus Jul 2015 #4

Sometimes it's even necessary. Daemonaquila Jul 2015 #5

I don't think there's any way to avoid it gollygee Jul 2015 #7

there's no way for white people--especially in cities--to avoid geek tragedy Jul 2015 #8

Every day. Warren Stupidity Jul 2015 #9

How can I not? bluedigger Jul 2015 #10

I know pintobean Jul 2015 #40

Does that count driving to work each day w/o being pulled over? lame54 Jul 2015 #11

I take advantage of it without even being aware of it ibegurpard Jul 2015 #12

Also benefit 1939 Jul 2015 #13

Stop waving Valhalla in our faces! NuclearDem Jul 2015 #20

I miss the option for "Robb is a Dingbat" One_Life_To_Give Jul 2015 #14

I'm pretty sure every white person does. romanic Jul 2015 #15

Truth! FrodosPet Jul 2015 #24

I am removed from most of the benefits of being mostly white. CBGLuthier Jul 2015 #17

Most of the time it's hard to tell when that is happening. Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #19

I feel that Anyone who is white and has inheritance from ancestors who benefited from slavery LostOne4Ever Jul 2015 #22

I was picking up a few groceries this afternoon, and the "Express Lane" had 9 or 10 people in line Electric Monk Jul 2015 #23

The assistant manager could indeed be a racist who watches out for white people in long lines, Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #27

You're thinking a "lil" too hard there. romanic Jul 2015 #32

Everytime I leave my house, my white privilege is showing... Humanist_Activist Jul 2015 #25

Good question HeiressofBickworth Jul 2015 #26

So did salaries indeed go up, for female paralegals too? (nt) Nye Bevan Jul 2015 #28

Slowly HeiressofBickworth Jul 2015 #35

One of the advantages of white privilege is being able to speak up on behalf of those Heidi Jul 2015 #29

i'm a white woman driving a volvo in a white city fizzgig Jul 2015 #30

I acknowledge and take advantage of the benefits of being white. ZombieHorde Jul 2015 #31

Unfortunately, privilege is not something you can just take off like a rain jacket eridani Jul 2015 #33

I am a white male nurse MattBaggins Jul 2015 #34

My wife is in your role, also working in a hospital. NorthCarolinaL Jul 2015 #36

We don't have to "take advantage" of the benefits, sufrommich Jul 2015 #38

I don't think it is possible not to benefit from being white, since our society is set tblue37 Jul 2015 #39

That's pretty much impossible romanic Jul 2015 #41