How are they privileged? In this particular case by dominating all such events (ex: video games). Why is this privilege? Because of a few things. A man playing in such an event, is not automatically assumed to represent the whole of his gender. If he wins or loses, he’s a good or bad player respectively, while women are treated as if they represent every other woman. Second, There will always be a majority of males which act and speak in manners comfortable to other males. This by default makes it an uncomfortable environment for women, instantly putting them on their guard and accentuating their alienation. So these are all effects that any woman entering a male-dominated hobby will face, something I’ve seen personally in gaming groups to the where I work. Even when there are people who wish to have more girls involved, their eagerness can inflame the problem rather than help (think of the awkward sweaty gaming geek trying to be nice to a shy girl joining the group, while leering at her boobs half the time.) So all of these constitute the privileged position of males in a sector and thus an inequality that will remain until sexism is abolished. In this situation, someone who strives for [b]equality, cannot simply act as if equality already exists.[/b] This is simply living in a dreamland and giving your silent consent to sexism at best, or actually acting like an unwitting apologist to misogyny at worst. Rather, someone who strives for equality roots for the weakest party until such time as equality has been achieved. And this is the ethical aspect that determines that a women-only event in a male-dominated hobby is not discrimination.