OK. So. You can have a situation between two people or two groups, both marginalized in some ways, where one person or group is RELATIVELY more privileged than the other.
Talking about those aspects of oppression is very very very very very very very very hard, and usually engenders misgivings and negative feelings on all sides.
-
-
For example: there are things that suck about being in a heavily-white-assimilated social environment as a black person.
Show this thread -
However, that white assimilation usually comes along with a great degree of additional MATERIAL benefit/stability/protection etc.
Show this thread -
so would I go up to a bunch of people who, say, are in a neighborhood that's under police lockdown and start whining about how race functions as an invisible disability when you are assimilated into a group of unconscious racist white folks? Prolly not.
Show this thread -
OTOH, if we NEVER talk about those subtle problems: a) our oppressors will think we don't mind them (we do), and b) we will keep accidentally hurting each other even where we intend to lift each other up.
Show this thread -
and frankly the lines are even MORE muddy where there's not such a stark difference in who benefits/who suffers. Or for things we don't necessarily have a language for but that matter a lot, e.g., a rich cishet white kid who comes from an emotionally abusive home.
Show this thread -
relative to, say, a cishet black guy who grew up in the hood, but with great parents and material stability (i.e., never seriously worried about food or shelter, even if all the bills didn't get paid on time.)
Show this thread -
Anyway these are all the niceties of the world we want to build that I feel like I at least got distracted from thinking about due to a combo of a) listening to more material-focused socialists and b) Donald the world's dumbest tyrant.
Show this thread -
but I think those things are worth thinking and talking about if we one day want to be able to understand and speak about---and in our understanding and speaking, create---a world that is welcoming and just to everyone.
Show this thread
End of conversation
New conversation -
Loading seems to be taking a while.
Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.