Other ways people do long division?

It's one of the most basic math operations and yet it comes in very different shapes. I'm mostly posting this to remind myself to think outside "my box" and remember that while I think some things are so fundamental that everyone must do it the same way regardless of their background, there are more then one way to acheive the same answer. Yes folks, I'm using math for this end, and no I'm not smoking anything lol How's everybody else's morning going?

I think I manage to tie it all in together.

This ramble inspired by 2 posts in feminist on guidelines men should try to follow when in feminist spaces. I’m not going for a “pat on the back” for being a half decent guy. I’ve joined a few feminist communities but kept this mini-struggle of mine to those communities for male or trans feminist. Unfortunately I got very little feedback and felt the cisgendered males couldn’t quite understand my experience.

( 1st ramble )

Yesterday a female co-worker suggested I apply for her position. I asked her what had prompted her move and she explained that she was tired of our boss mistaking her for a secretary. I asked her why then she’d want me to take her job, I had no desire to be anyone’s secretary, and express puzzlement that she was doing anything secretarial-like, since she’s an analyst by title and that wasn’t her job description. As quietly as she could, you could tell hoping I wouldn’t hear it she muttered “Matt, you’re not a woman, he won’t expect you to do both your job and be a personal secretary.” And then a little louder “don’t worry, he won’t make you into his bitch.” I just blinked a few times so stunned by what I’d just heard. Sounding very genuinely concerned rather than accusatory I said “Wait… did you mutter he was treating you differently just because you’re a woman?” She reluctantly nodded, clearly assuming I’d deny it or label her as paranoid/wrong somehow. She said it was probably all in her mind and just to forget it. Instead I acknowledged what I’ve been too privileged to catch on was happening right next to me and listened as she vented. 

( rest of this portion )

Something else that can make my head hurt is my relationship to homophobia. I remember being incensed when gay men said it was harder for gay guys to be out then it was for lesbians (and yes, most these dialogues are biphobic/monosexual-centrict). I was out all the time about my sexual orientation and often feared that some male ‘phobe would try to sexually assault me to “make me straight”.

( ramble 2 )

I have no idea where I wanted to go with this but this is where it wound up. I mostly wanted to say that I am slowly getting better at checking my male privilege in spaces where I’m stealth and I find the process of realizing the sides of sexism I never experienced and deconstructing my privilege fascinating rather than a painful exercise as I had when I began to check my other sources of privilege 5 years ago.

( Why am I doing the pamphlet for supportive significant others of transfolks )

This post public so thisisamuffin can read it (should someone tell her about it).