On Privilege And Oppression.

.....I ran across the below as I was cleaning up papers from NORWESCON. And thinking about some of my recent experiences with members of the Baronial Populace who could easily be described as "non-normative". I mainly wanted to put it down somewhere so I wouldn't forget.

.....At NORWESCON, I attended a panel on cultural differences. How Society deals with the differences and with the concept of privilege and oppression. And how people in general should be more aware of their interactions with the people around them. It is interesting sometimes how we go through life essentially with blinders over our consciousness. Everything must fit into nice, neat categories. Everything musts be pigeon-holed and classified.

.....It was provocative to see inequality through the eyes of people who directly experience oppression, which in itself is enlightening when one makes the assumption that oppression is something experienced to a lesser degree in America then elsewhere in the world. A definite incorrect assumption on my part, and something I must remind myself continually is not true.

.....The panel consisted of four people with a 'non-normative' background, which I would define now as a minority background. The moderator basically started off the conversation by having us look around the room and note the assumptions made of those in attendance. Those of us who were white, male and middle aged were pointed out to be privileged in ways we might not even fully understand. It was an interesting way to start the conversation as it put those of us in that 'category' immediately on the defensive, which was the intent.

.....Here were the basic tenets of privilege and oppression presented:

"* Privilege is not inherently bad. Example: You are likely privileged to have access to electricity, which means access to refrigeration, efficient lighting/heating/cooking, media, computers, cell phones, the internet, etc. that 1.5 billion people (in 2009 according to the International Energy Agency) do not have. But few would argue that you should not have access to electricity, given the advantages.

* When a majority of a group is privileged, that privilege is treated as normative. Example: Most of us are able to read, and this gives us ready access to a variety of information, from signs to books to handouts. Therefore, it is easy to think that everyone aught to be able to do the same, if one does not stop to consider those who are unable - people with blindness or dyslexia, people without access to basic education, etc.

* Privilege and oppression are often institutionalized. Example: English by default has words for two genders only, and the definitions of the words that each gender is continuous and immutable through life. ("Girl" is a young woman, "boy" is a young man, etc.) Those with non-normative experiences with gender have to adopt or invent new words in order to describe their experiences, such as "cisgender", "neutrois", "genderqueer", etc. Then they have to teach the words and struggle against claims they aren't "real" words, attempts to redefine the words using the existing definitions and implications, etc.

* The defense of privilege is a common source of oppression. Example: Economic inequalities can be defended by shaming the poor, refusing to discuss the subject, claiming that addressing inequalities will penalize the well-off, asseting that "everything's fine", making accusations of trouble-making, predicting a loss of overall wealth, etc.

* Privilege is often defended without conscious intent. Example: It is asserted enough that girls are worse at math than boys that nearly everyone reading this will have heard the statement at least once, and thus it is easy to presume it is a given. Recent studies show that gender is not a good predictor of success at math, however. Nonetheless, the assumption that boys are better at math will likely continue to discourage women from pursuing science and engineering for some time.

* Guilt over privilege indirectly defends privilege. Example: White people who are aware that they benefit from a racist society may feel so guilty that they cannot believe themselves capable of being just towards people of color, and thus perpetuate the racism through inaction.

* It takes conscious effort to think past normative privileges. Example: Those with normal mobility may not immediately realize that stairs and narrow passages hinder those who depend on wheelchairs, scooters, or walkers. An architect who wishes to improve access for the mobility-challenged must keep this concern in mind at every point of the design process to ensure there will be ramps, elevators, spacious hallways, etc.

* The oppressed may internalize their oppression. Example: Transgender people may discover that their own words and ways of thinking about themselves is transphobic, and is contributing to their own oppression. They have to struggle to overcome their internalized transphobia."

.....My biggest takeaways from the conversation:

.....* Ask questions! You can never completely understand another person. It just isn't possible. You don't share a brain. Ask questions with interactive feedback until you come to a mutual understanding. Get their definitions.

.....* Always be on the look-out for assumptions. Your own and others. Some of them are inherent, pervasive and long term. Always question your assumptions.

.....* People will always have their own issues. Do not attempt to own their issues. Do not attempt to give your issues to them. They may be inherently angry towards you for no reason you can understand. That is theirs to own.

.....It was definitely thought provoking. I need to work on modifying my own behavior some, especially in regards to members of the Baronial Family. It may be helpful in maintaining my own sanity as well. Definitely a bonus.

.....Aaron / Arontius.