In terms of rarely acknowledged, even in spaces and among groups where discussion of privilege does take place? Right-handed privilege. So many little things in society are set up for right handers in ways that they would not even think about. Scissors and serrated knives will cut awkwardly. Lecture desks can be physically uncomfortable to use (I’ve even seen suggestions that this can lead to chronic injuries later in life, though cannot substantiate that). Even our writing system makes using a pen or pencil much harder for lefties, resulting in the physically-awkward adaptation known as “hook grip” (especially if they do not have teachers who can relate to their experience and guide them through it). As recently as Gen X at least, it was not uncommon for lefties to be beaten to be forced to write right-handed.
It’s obviously insignificant compared to cishet white male privilege, but those definitely do get acknowledged so I figured that’s not what the question is asking. I also think it can be very worth exploring these lesser-known privileges, even if they are lesser in significance as well, because they can provide a lens through which to teach people about privilege that is more removed from politicisation, and can help them accept the idea of privilege as a problem. (That’s what this article did, to great effect IMO.)
Yeah my wife is a leftie and mouse and keyboard setups are a pain in the ass for her. Mid range mice with modern features like back buttons are a pain in the ass to find in ambidextrous or left handed variants. She also has to remap her keyboard for video games.
There’s also shit like the booth-elbow problem, but thankfully I had a left handed parent so I know to make a point to sit to her right.
Like many lefties inevitably do, I grew up some combination of cross dominant and ambidextrous. Mouse and keyboard was one thing I did right-handed. And I am so thankful for that, because as you say, it is one of the harder things to accommodate.
Very true. Just thought I’d mention: the Hebrew writing system is right-to-left, and so is Arabic. Thus the lefties actually have the privilege in that particular instance. I don’t remember anyone teaching me how to hold a pen though.
Traditional Chinese writing is top to bottom, right to left, but doesn’t favour either hand particularly because the brushing technique involves your hand being way above the paper. :D
thanks for your comment NeatNit! Unfortunately this community is women-only, and has a rule that only women are permitted to comment or post, so please do not comment further. Hope you understand, thank you! 💛
Scissors with symmetrical handles are better and easier to use, than those with asymmetrical, desiged for right handed people. I am right handed.
Scissors seems targeted. They don’t need to be unusable for left handed people. But scissor companies have chosen a design that is more expensive to manufacture, and less comfortable for everyone just to torture left handed people.
Fwiw there’s more than just the shape of the handle. I don’t fully know why, but even basic symmetrical scissors are worse in the left hand than the right. I believe it has something to do with the slight sideways pressure you inevitably apply when using them, and the direction that pressure is being applied relative to how the two blades are configured.
Absolutely the positioning of the blades is right-favouring. Take any normal pair of “symmetrical” scissors as an exercise and try to cut through a stack of 20 sheets of paper. Note that the scissors twist in your hand. And they happen to twist in the direction that a right-hander finds easiest to control.
In terms of rarely acknowledged, even in spaces and among groups where discussion of privilege does take place? Right-handed privilege. So many little things in society are set up for right handers in ways that they would not even think about. Scissors and serrated knives will cut awkwardly. Lecture desks can be physically uncomfortable to use (I’ve even seen suggestions that this can lead to chronic injuries later in life, though cannot substantiate that). Even our writing system makes using a pen or pencil much harder for lefties, resulting in the physically-awkward adaptation known as “hook grip” (especially if they do not have teachers who can relate to their experience and guide them through it). As recently as Gen X at least, it was not uncommon for lefties to be beaten to be forced to write right-handed.
It’s obviously insignificant compared to cishet white male privilege, but those definitely do get acknowledged so I figured that’s not what the question is asking. I also think it can be very worth exploring these lesser-known privileges, even if they are lesser in significance as well, because they can provide a lens through which to teach people about privilege that is more removed from politicisation, and can help them accept the idea of privilege as a problem. (That’s what this article did, to great effect IMO.)
Yeah my wife is a leftie and mouse and keyboard setups are a pain in the ass for her. Mid range mice with modern features like back buttons are a pain in the ass to find in ambidextrous or left handed variants. She also has to remap her keyboard for video games.
There’s also shit like the booth-elbow problem, but thankfully I had a left handed parent so I know to make a point to sit to her right.
Like many lefties inevitably do, I grew up some combination of cross dominant and ambidextrous. Mouse and keyboard was one thing I did right-handed. And I am so thankful for that, because as you say, it is one of the harder things to accommodate.
Very true. Just thought I’d mention: the Hebrew writing system is right-to-left, and so is Arabic. Thus the lefties actually have the privilege in that particular instance. I don’t remember anyone teaching me how to hold a pen though.
Traditional Chinese writing is top to bottom, right to left, but doesn’t favour either hand particularly because the brushing technique involves your hand being way above the paper. :D
thanks for your comment NeatNit! Unfortunately this community is women-only, and has a rule that only women are permitted to comment or post, so please do not comment further. Hope you understand, thank you! 💛
Scissors with symmetrical handles are better and easier to use, than those with asymmetrical, desiged for right handed people. I am right handed.
Scissors seems targeted. They don’t need to be unusable for left handed people. But scissor companies have chosen a design that is more expensive to manufacture, and less comfortable for everyone just to torture left handed people.
Fwiw there’s more than just the shape of the handle. I don’t fully know why, but even basic symmetrical scissors are worse in the left hand than the right. I believe it has something to do with the slight sideways pressure you inevitably apply when using them, and the direction that pressure is being applied relative to how the two blades are configured.
Absolutely the positioning of the blades is right-favouring. Take any normal pair of “symmetrical” scissors as an exercise and try to cut through a stack of 20 sheets of paper. Note that the scissors twist in your hand. And they happen to twist in the direction that a right-hander finds easiest to control.