I do this all the time and I guess my way of working through it/dealing with it is just trying to think more carefully about what I say, calling myself on it when I do do it and taking it on board when people call me on it. It is really hard.
It IS really hard. And it is hard to call people (myself included) on it, since they're (I'm) already acknowledging their (my) privilege. But acknowledging it doesn't mean I (they) get a free pass.
I think you have to ask yourself why you are acknowledging your privilege "out loud" so to speak. What's the purpose? Is it to situate yourself in the conversation/world? Is it to ward off people who may not "get" that you "get" your privilege and might call you on it? Is "I acknowledge my privilege" kind of like "I have a black cousin" for progressives
( ... )
Yeah, I don't want to stop people (myself or others) from saying it, from acknowledging their (our) privilege out loud. What's bothering me is that that seems so often to be the end of it. But it's not, it's really just the beginning.
And it seems entirely weird and counter productive to call people out for acknowledging their privilege, but yes, SUBSEQUENT STEPS.
And yeah, this is totally me working through that process, and making mistakes, and learning and growing. Because there was a time when I didn't really realise what privilege was, or especially that I might benefit from it. So for a while, recognising it and acknowledging it was a huge step, and for a while it was enough. And it was enough from other people to.
But...I don't really know what's next. Listening, I think. And action.
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I do this all the time and I guess my way of working through it/dealing with it is just trying to think more carefully about what I say, calling myself on it when I do do it and taking it on board when people call me on it. It is really hard.
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*goes off to ponder some more*
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And it seems entirely weird and counter productive to call people out for acknowledging their privilege, but yes, SUBSEQUENT STEPS.
And yeah, this is totally me working through that process, and making mistakes, and learning and growing. Because there was a time when I didn't really realise what privilege was, or especially that I might benefit from it. So for a while, recognising it and acknowledging it was a huge step, and for a while it was enough. And it was enough from other people to.
But...I don't really know what's next. Listening, I think. And action.
Reply
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