US - National Day of Silence
In the U.S. it is the National Day of Silence, the womanist blog (I feel) describes it best:
On April 17 you can spend a day in silence reflecting on how are dissonance in worth and value wrongfully privileges certain bodies and allow your silence to speak the words that you may no be able to express.
Bullying doesn't just happen at school, or even at work, in our homes & neighborhoods or houses of worship. Bullying isn't always loud or threatening. Each time a post about queer rights or trans rights is made and the comment threads turn into 'what does cis mean?' or other such derailing actions - the conversation moves from the rights and real dangers people face to 'please educate the privileged' moments. This is silencing. There has been a lot of fail around some large feminist blogs as of late (google boycott feministe and feministing) in the way ownership and lesson taking has happened when this very valid issue is raised.
I come from a huge amount of privileges that allow me to make this post. Any derailing for the 'sake of education' isn't going to compound my silence, other me, hurt me, or marginalize me. This post isn't about pats on the back, or a dozen comments on 'hell ya' but rather posing the question:
What are the best strategies to beyond the day of silence end this kind of derailing? For folks to create a culture where the priveleged take on a sense of ownership in their own education & finding ways to be silent (and supportive) to end the smothering of queer and trans voices. How do we nip this shit in the bud, how do we hold ourselves, our community, and our colleagues accountable?
On April 17 you can spend a day in silence reflecting on how are dissonance in worth and value wrongfully privileges certain bodies and allow your silence to speak the words that you may no be able to express.
Bullying doesn't just happen at school, or even at work, in our homes & neighborhoods or houses of worship. Bullying isn't always loud or threatening. Each time a post about queer rights or trans rights is made and the comment threads turn into 'what does cis mean?' or other such derailing actions - the conversation moves from the rights and real dangers people face to 'please educate the privileged' moments. This is silencing. There has been a lot of fail around some large feminist blogs as of late (google boycott feministe and feministing) in the way ownership and lesson taking has happened when this very valid issue is raised.
I come from a huge amount of privileges that allow me to make this post. Any derailing for the 'sake of education' isn't going to compound my silence, other me, hurt me, or marginalize me. This post isn't about pats on the back, or a dozen comments on 'hell ya' but rather posing the question:
What are the best strategies to beyond the day of silence end this kind of derailing? For folks to create a culture where the priveleged take on a sense of ownership in their own education & finding ways to be silent (and supportive) to end the smothering of queer and trans voices. How do we nip this shit in the bud, how do we hold ourselves, our community, and our colleagues accountable?