I see what you’re saying but I don’t think it truly works that way in practice. As an example, what do we call the fact that women can wear lightweight and breathable clothing (dresses / skirts / spaghetti straps) to work when it’s hot while men have to wear pants and long sleeves? Based on your description it seems like that would be called female privilege but I don’t think I’ve ever heard that phrase used in a genuine fashion before.
That, I think, is why the inference is drawn that men are being blamed for creating the situation when the word male privilege is used. It may theoretically refer to a concept that applies to both men and women but in practice you only ever hear about the situations in which men are seen to benefit. If we don’t have the other side of the conversation then it feels like that other side doesn’t exist even if it is intended to.
I see what you’re saying but I don’t think it truly works that way in practice. As an example, what do we call the fact that women can wear lightweight and breathable clothing (dresses / skirts / spaghetti straps) to work when it’s hot while men have to wear pants and long sleeves? Based on your description it seems like that would be called female privilege but I don’t think I’ve ever heard that phrase used in a genuine fashion before.
That, I think, is why the inference is drawn that men are being blamed for creating the situation when the word male privilege is used. It may theoretically refer to a concept that applies to both men and women but in practice you only ever hear about the situations in which men are seen to benefit. If we don’t have the other side of the conversation then it feels like that other side doesn’t exist even if it is intended to.