The Supporting Role of White Males
Women are leading the movement. Men should be proud to take a supporting role.
When I was a child I played the part of “Mountain Dirt #23” in an after school play about John Henry. One lucky child got to play the titular part of John Henry. Another played the machinist. Five were his steam drill. The rest of us were the mountain they were attempting to burrow through.
I remember complaining to my parents the week leading up to the play. I griped that it was stupid. My part was pointless. And it wasn’t fair I should lose an evening just standing around as part of literal earth in the background of a play that didn’t star me in the lead role. “Everyone gets a turn, and its not your turn to be the lead,” they told me.
The play ended up being a lot of fun. Despite my protests, it all kind of came together in a way in which we all were proud to have participated. We supported our John Henry and our machinist and his machine and they did a great job. It was a nice little play.
I sense a lot of frustration from males, white males in particular, who feel as though their place in the anti-Trump resistance is pointless if they aren’t being given the usual attention they would be otherwise for standing up for a cause. The fact that the faces of the resistance, their sisters in pink hats, are often diverse females and not the typical “angry white guy in Converse with a bullhorn” they’re used to makes them feel as though there’s no point in participating.
Some of this may be residual Bernie Bro bitterness. But I feel like there’s just a lot of men who would refuse to participate in any “women’s march” regardless of what the cause is, and regardless of the makeup of participants, if the faces at the front of the line are female. There isn’t a lot of shine being a white male in a movement largely identified as being not white males.
There’s a tendency within the male psyche to believe that if something involving “people” doesn’t feature white males, this group must be purposefully excluded. This goes for films. For music. Even social movements. Obviously they would be featured if they weren’t being barred from having any engagement.
There’s no law that states that men aren’t allowed to listen to female musicians, and no restriction barring white people from watching Moonlight. And there are plenty of white males who currently join women of color and diversity in protesting what they believe to be a cause greater than caring about comfort zones and sex laws. They still hold signs, participate in chants, and help organize. They may not be the face of the movement, or its leadership, but they contribute and they don’t complain about who is getting the most attention or whose cause is front & center.
If women were able to successfully plan one of the largest and most peaceful protests in American history, you should be grateful you have strength in their leadership to give voice to your concerns.
If women have been able to successfully organize local resistance groups to pressure your congresspersons to act against the administration, you should be thrilled that they are offering their time and energy to protect your rights.
If women have been able to cultivate a diverse coalition that promotes one of the most inclusive & progressive platforms in American history, you should trust that they are working toward something greater than the mess which men have created and protected for the last 40 years.
Women are in the lead role of this movement. They are doing a damn fine job and deserve your support as they have given you theirs in silence for far too long.
You may not like it, but your place in this movement is not the lead role. “Jane” Henry is now the lead role, and if you are going to be the supporting cast it’s still a lovely play to be participating in. I urge you to put aside your bullshit, stop whining, and roll up your sleeves.
