6/Privilege: A chisplanation

[chibidl]

So, I was derping around online doing valid and necessary research on the LJRP community for anthropology class (yep, yep, totally) when I ran across metafandom and of course got sucked in. I was mostly there to look at the topics and find out exactly how one submits articles to be linked, as I'm interested in posting my ethnography (when it is finished) to

Comments

[esotaria]

...I just nerdgasmed.

Although I have to say -- I'm glad there are real feminists around to tell them no for meI can't quite agree with that, or the reinforcing-sense-of-privilege-by-explaining. It would be nice if people would just spontaneously recognize their privilege and work to correct the various -isms (be it racism, sexism, classism, ableism, etc.), but it will never happen, not on an effective scale. It's not fair that minority groups have to explain to people in power why something is wrong and why things need to be changed, and I respect those people who go: "I don't want to be your educator. Sorry

[chibidl]

It would be nice if people would just spontaneously recognize their privilege and work to correct the various -isms (be it racism, sexism, classism, ableism, etc.), but it will never happen, not on an effective scale.They can't. It's not possible. I mean, once you've learned to recognize one privilege set I think it's easier to recognize others, so if you for example are white but trans and know all about cisgendered privilege it might be easier for you to spontaneously become aware of your privilege in racial situations. But that only works if you're already deeply 'in the know' about how this stuff relates to an issue you're passionate about. The people who face the greatest challenges when it comes to realizing their privilege are those who most need to do so. Our culture places their interests above those of everyone else, and because they are participants who were born and raised in that culture and were never awakened to how it was oppressing them (because it wasn't), they have never thought to question it. They cannot possibly

[esotaria]

It is not the job of the oppressed to educate the privileged. It is, however, the job of the offended to speak out against whatever is bothering them. What everyone should do is find the areas where they are privileged and become hypersensitive to their own and others' use of that privilege. Sexism might bother me because I'm a girl, but since I'm white I should focus instead on race issues so that I can educate other white people about our privilege. The men among those people I talk to will then have an easier time adjusting to the idea of male privilege, once they find out about it through other means, because they will already know about white privilege and the ideas - though not the specific privileges - are similar. Perhaps some of them might even spontaneously become aware of their male privilege because they can see the patterns of symbolism.That is an excellent point, and I certainly did not want to imply that I think the poor are obligated to teach the rich, or women to teach the men, etc. I like the way you said "the job of

[chibidl]

And in terms of effectiveness, I think your longer, more sympathetic but still firm response is much more effective than a simple slap in the face.

My answer is more complicated, though, and sometimes a complicated answer does more harm than good. These men are in a sense saying, "Wait, so if I do this it's sexist but if she does the exact same thing then it's not? Isn't that... sexist?" The most effective answer is not, "Well, it's not the action that is sexist but the beliefs and values behind it..." because most men do not believe that they hold sexist beliefs or values. You are set up to fail because everyone believes either that they are an exception to the rule or that society as a whole isn't as bad as you're painting it.

So, no, the most effective answer that I can think of really is to slap them in the face with, "No, and shut up." When they have been burned enough times to finally get it through their heads that maybe you're not the one with the problem, then they will be ready for the longer explanation.

But by seeing