Monday, November 22, 2010

Challenging the Idea that Oppression is the Fault of the Oppressed

Words can hurt, can't they?  It doesn't matter what movement you are a part of, people who are resistant to change or who lack empathy can say really hurtful or dismissing things.  After a while, these things take their toll.  It's helpful to keep some simple truths at hand to uplift your spirits.

What people with privilege say to oppressed people:

"You're just having a pity party for yourself."
Or....maybe because they have a unique experience, they choose to speak from it so that others can learn and understand what the needs of their group are?

"You're just looking for things to be insulted by."
Or...maybe there is a difference between looking for things to be insulted by and standing up for yourself when something is oppressive to you?

"You just want to tell people what to say and not to say."
Or....maybe that's just another way of saying that you're not willing to make the effort to refer to others in a way that is appreciated and promotes acceptance and positivity for that group.

"You're asking people to be politically correct." what?  Political correctness is a weak gesture towards another human being.  Using acceptable language to refer to others takes a lot less effort than seeking to be kind and discovering what words others appreciate most.

We must stop making oppression the fault of the oppressed, and labeling it as their own personal flaw if they cannot find a way to "get over it."  It makes more sense to instead spread education and teach kindness than it is to apologize for ignorance so that it perpetually exists for no reason at all.  It can be really easy to be discouraged by people who simply do not understand or don't want to.  But I suppose that's what comes along with standing up for what's right. 

Don't be discouraged.

"Correction does much, encouragement does more" -- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Photo credit:  Salvatore Vuono


Von said...

Never be discouraged, even if something looks like a wasted effort it may not be and will be thought over later.We never know for sure what changes someone's mind, what words or true feelings expressed.Those who have the 'single story'of adoption may eventually come to realise life ain't that simple! x

Julia said...

I don't know if sarcasm appeals to you or not, but I find this site very helpful when that kind of talk is really getting to me:

There is lots of and lots of not wanting to understand in this world and I find it hard to fathom...

Margie said...

I can really relate to this.

Jae Ran Kim wrote a really good post about this, "How to suppress discussions about transracial and transnational adoption," on Harlow's Monkey:

The suppression techniques apply to just about any situation in which someone wants to shut down the discussion. Adoptive parents are (very sadly) really good at this.

Lori said...

Amanda, a bit off topic, however, I would love an entry on my edu blog written by you - the idea that medical history, biological roots, abandonment....It is important that we all have input. Please, consider it.

ms. marginalia said...

I love this! You say it so firmly and clearly. We have a right to speak our truths, and by calling us harpies or worse for having opinions that run counter to accepted wisdom, we are diminished.

I have never felt more liberated than during the past year when I refused to be quiet, well behaved secret anymore. I have a right to know who I was born to be, and I am not apologizing for asking for what is mine!

Thank you, Amanda.

Anonymous said...

My GOD, I can pity-party like a rock-star. I love parties. w00t, w00t and they can all kiss my photograph later.