While feminism and my identify as a woman is something I think about daily, I have recently felt the need to write about it again due to various conversations with others over the past few months. Feminism interacts directly with racism and classism, with various connections between these dimensions of oppression, so I will speak here to oppression overall. Lately, I am actively trying to make an effort to take action against the oppression of others, rather than just sitting back and holding in my beliefs. The motto I have tried to live by my entire life (well, ever since I learned of it, so I guess really since around the year 2000) is "Stand up for what is right, even if you are standing alone." While I try to take action and speak up about oppression against all people, I am most comfortable doing it for women, because I am one, so I can directly relate due to my daily existence as one.
I would say that the biggest argument I hear in favor of oppressing others is that people don't want to have to worry about being PC (Politically Correct). I had already planned on writing this today when I saw this on facebook:
Now, I don't actually believe that people who complain about being PC necessarily WANT to insult and belittle women and minorities (though, some do). I think it's more likely that people grow up hearing certain things and talking a certain way, and then it's really hard to change that. When I say it's hard, I mean that, in order to change the way we talk, we need to think about what our words mean, the impact they have on others, have conversations with others that may be impacted, and then actually think about alternative ways to share what we're trying to say. Well, that's a shit-ton of work, and I'd say most people are inherently lazy, so of course they don't want to have to be PC! And of course they're going to say or think that you're ruining the "fun" if you encourage them to think about their words. As my younger and wiser cousin Mara stated "Oppression is a buzzkill WHADDYA GUNNA DO?"
Now, I'm going to share with you my secret weapon for happiness, which may also help in your journey to understand the oppression of others. Empathy. The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. I also like to include a pre-cursor to empathy which is understanding that others have feelings, they may be different than the feelings you expect of them, and they are allowed to have any feelings they want (or maybe even don't want). Their feelings are fact and you can't argue that fact - only they know how they feel. I don't actually believe that we need to fully understand others' feelings in order to have empathy for them. It's more about listening and holding space.
I call this blog Personal Change because I strive for personal change every day of my life. I am not perfect. I slip up and fall into old ways of thinking and talking sometimes. I try to recognize those occasions, reflect on them, and move on. Life is a journey and if we're not striving for personal improvement every day, then what's the point? I promise that personal improvement is the gateway to better relationships with others, leaving a positive imprint on the world, and overall happiness. I urge you to go forth with open minds and open hearts, and start the discussion.
