After a conservative teenager denied having any "privilege," a liberal mother took him to task in a moment that quickly won her plaudits online.
The exchange was featured on Middle Ground—a long-running series produced by the YouTube channel Jubilee that features people with different perspectives attempting to work through their differences.
The latest video titled "Conservative Teens vs Liberal Parents" shows parents shutting down arguments from teenagers who've spouted uninformed conservative talking points.
One mother, named Cindy, attracted viewer attention for her arguments in favor of safeguarding reproductive rights.
You can watch what happened below.
Cindy's remarks come as the United States continues to reel from the news a leaked draft opinion indicated the Supreme Court's ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization will move to strike down Roe v. Wade, the 1973 landmark decision that protects a person's right to choose reproductive healthcare without excessive government restriction.
One teen, identified as Nathan, appeared unable to comprehend the concept of financially supporting a woman who he might impregnate.
Cindy pointed out Nathan has privilege over women as a cisgender male and he did not like that one bit.
He responded:
“Why would you say my life is privilege?"
"You know most people commit suicide are men."
"Most people who work in dangerous workplaces are men."
"Most people who fight in war are men.”
Cindy shut him down with the following response:
"And who set that system up?"
Nathan attempted to pick a fight with Cindy later, asking her if she thinks having gender-neutral restrooms increases the likelihood of "rape or assault."
She responded with the following:
"They already exist. It's interesting that men are only concerned about this 'rape in the bathroom' when we're having a conversation about trans folk."
And when Nathan suggested the mere existence of gender-neural restrooms "stems from this idea," Cindy was well prepared.
"No. This idea that rape is gonna suddenly go on the rise because of gender neutral bathrooms, stems from transphobia."
These exchanges soon went viral and many praised Cindy for the strength of her arguments.
\u201c"Men are not privileged, more men do hazardous jobs, go to war etc"\n\n"Who set up the system?"\n\n"...men" \ud83d\udc80\u201d— VieN | Commissions open! (@VieN | Commissions open!) 1654678506
\u201cImagine men realizing patriarchy and toxic masculinity are the root of their problems and NOT feminism? Too unrealistic \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f\u201d— Sweetrobin in LOTRROP era (@Sweetrobin in LOTRROP era) 1654631169
\u201cms. cindy did not come to play with that little boy omg \ud83d\udc80\u201d— nayya \ud83e\uddcc (@nayya \ud83e\uddcc) 1654634615
\u201c\u201cmost people who commit are men\u201d, meanwhile they call their friends a slur if they show emotion lmao men\u201d— covi \ud83c\udf38 THIS BANGTAN SHIT IS FOREVER \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\udc9c\ud83d\udc9c (@covi \ud83c\udf38 THIS BANGTAN SHIT IS FOREVER \ud83d\ude2d\ud83d\udc9c\ud83d\udc9c) 1654639051
\u201cCLEARED TF OUTTA HIM \ud83e\udd23\ud83e\udd23\u201d— Pretty (@Pretty) 1654643933
\u201cshe bonked him on the head a bit too hard with that one\u201d— Siam (@Siam) 1654644093
\u201cY\u2019all did this to yourselves hahahahha\u201d— V (@V) 1654662224
\u201cacting like the system just appeared out of nowhere when they are the center of it \ud83d\ude2d\u201d— \u00e6-lei FEEL MY RHYTHM (@\u00e6-lei FEEL MY RHYTHM) 1654620988
\u201cEat him UP !!!!!\u201d— paige looney (@paige looney) 1654704458
Most Americans support a woman's right to choose. The final Supreme Court opinion on the future of Roe v. Wade is expected later this summer.
Meanwhile, concerns about "bathroom predators" have long galvanized the right, perhaps most prominently during early 2016, when the North Carolina legislature passed a bill overturning local gay and transgender protections. The bill was a direct response to a prior nondiscrimination ordinance in the city of Charlotte, which had offered a wide range of protections.
Most notably, the Charlotte ordinance allowed citizens to use the restroom that best matches their gender identity. State lawmakers acted ostensibly out of concern that women and children could be victimized by sexual predators posing as transgender to enter women’s restrooms, a claim that was immediately contested by civil rights groups.
