Line of Oppression
Oppression is a touchy subject. But it is also something that is unavoidable.
In class today, our professor had us do an outdoor exercise. We all lined up on the edge of the sidewalk that separates the grass from the bushes, with the grass ahead of us and the bushes a few steps behind us. She had us hold hands and respond to her comments.
"If your ( Read more... )
I understand how a group of people who are always oppressed are very unprivileged but that's not really the case here in America (I am not talking about downright oppressed people like slaves etc..., talking about regular citizens here). Obviously there are exceptions but for the most part this is a country where if you want to succeed, you can.
I find that many people have more than they need yet always find reasons to be unhappy. We are so privileged, in a way, but whats the point if it does nothing for us?
To me, privileged means little, its all about the person and their outlook on life.
Life is unfair and we can complain about it all we want, complain about being unprivileged, old, ugly, boring, sad, paralyzed, depressed, but that's never gonna solve anything.
Sorry for being such an idealist.
PS: Oh and by the way, I don't like the fact that you think I'll leave you in there forever. What kind of a friend am I huh? Maybe you should take a physics class...
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Anyway, I think our disagreement here is not on the repercussions of privileges, but what the term "privilege" actually means.
Privileges are a huge thing, and this country is not an ideal place. There is rascism, ageism, sexism, and audism in this country, whether or not you want to believe it. It's not always conscious, but it is there. Any time there is a majority, they will create a world in which they are the most comfortable.
Take audism for example. Audism is the idea that hearing people are better than deaf people based on the fact that they can hear. Now, it might not be necessarily conscious audist mentality that causes people to create modern technologies centered around sound, but it is definitely the majority doing what best fits themselves. The majority can't be blamed for doing that, but it's just common to forget that the minority exists. The deaf minority is not included in those technologies. Deaf people have to pay to have special doorbells installed that flicker the lights, pay more than triple the amount of a regular alarm clock to get one that vibrates under their pillow, and have to use a video relay system - a video camera attached to a set on their tv so they can video chat on their tv with an interpreter to call hearing people - every time they want to make a doctor's appointment or call their lawyer. Then when they make that appointment, they have to make sure it's going to be at a time when an interpreter will be available to be there. And during that appointment, the interpreter will know everything about their medical history or their personal life (even though the interpreter is technically supposed to maintain confidentiality). We, as hearing people, don't need to be subjected to any of those things just because we can hear. Not to mention the fact that we can go up to any person on the street and most of the time we will be able to have a conversation with them in our home language. All of these things give us a privilege that we don't even realize we have until it is pointed out to us. Does that make us better or deaf people worse? No. It's definitely unfair, but the majority in society always sets things up for their own comfort, and doesn't realize that their comfort can mean someone else's discomfort.
So what you're saying is that these privileges don't exist if deaf people will be happy with themselves? On the contrary, happiness has nothing to do with it. Privileges will exist regardless of feelings about them. I know plenty of Deaf people who are happy with who they are and their lives. But that doesn't mean they can go out and get an alarm clock that beeps.
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"Privileges are a huge thing, and this country is not an ideal place. There is rascism, ageism, sexism, and audism in this country, whether or not you want to believe it. It's not always conscious, but it is there. Any time there is a majority, they will create a world in which they are the most comfortable."
Of course there is but to what extent? Obviously there are random hate crimes, and dirty areas but for the most part its a good place to live. Most people in this country have a shelter, food to eat and all the basic needs there for them.
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I am not denying that people who cannot hear have it as easy as me, you, and other people who can hear. I just feel like regarding it as a privilege is a little bit off the way.
Of course people who can't hear at a disadvantage, people on wheelchairs can't walk, some people can't think straight, some can't eat, some are lying in bed all day sick... Where does the list end? Exactly how self conscious do I have to be to force myself to feel privileged about all those things.
You mentioned all these solutions for deaf people, in a way, you showed me that they live in a society that accommodates for their disability, obviously being a minority its harder for them but they are still getting helped and able to live their lives. They aren't being shunned by people who can hear, nor are they being mistreated (as far as I know) - maybe misunderstood would be a better word.
I feel fortunate for being alive and well, in fact I really appreciate it. I am not denying the fact that I am lucky, but I just can't see it as a privilege. I feel like a priviledge is something that is given to me, while people who can't hear, its more of something taken from them.
Like you said, maybe we understand the word differently.
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And we also disgree on how we see the deaf community. Deaf people are shunned all the time, and are definitely mistreated.
Call me Thursday!
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Actually I'd like to add an exerpt from a paper I wrote a couple of weeks ago.
"Privilege is a benefit that one group may have over another based on a factor that is not the decision of either group. Privilege is determined in context. The best example is one I heard when I first was exposed to Deaf Studies. A friend of mine was telling me that Deaf people are not disabled, because “disability” is relative. In her example, if a Deaf person went to a party where everyone was hearing and no one knew Sign Language, this person would be at a disadvantage and might be viewed as “disabled”; in a parallel, if a hearing person who does not know Sign Language went to a party where everyone was Deaf and did not speak, the hearing person would be at the disadvantage and would be the “disabled” one. At the first party, the hearing people have the privilege of direct communication with each other. At the second party, the Deaf people have this privilege."
I've put this excerpt here for many reasons.
1. Notice that I've put the word "disabled" in quotes, because the word is relative for the reasons stated. Therefore, I do not believe that deaf people are disabled at all - they are completely abled except for the fact that they don't hear. Which is not a disadvantage in every situation.
2. I was talking about the deaf party and the hearing party. Now imagine that the whole world is one big hearing party.
This is the minority I currently know the most about which is why it's the easiest for me to talk about it, so let's do this -
Imagine you're deaf. Here are some very common scenarios.
1. You're walking down the street minding your own business when all of a sudden someone pushes you from behind. You turn around to see some dude yelling at you and you have no idea why. Apparently he was trying to get your attention and thought you were ignoring him, so he decided to get physical because he didn't like your attitude.
2. You're in the store looking at some shoes when a salesperson comes up to you, of course to ask if you need any help. You just look at her and point to your ears to let her know you're deaf. She takes a step back and her jaw drops. Then she looks aghast while she mouths the words "I'm so sorry."
3. You're this guy.
4. You're this guy.
There were more but you get the point.
I believe I've already told you about the incidents I've experienced where people have assumed I'm deaf and have said and done very inappropriate things just because they thought I couldn't hear them.
The point is that deaf people are shunned. They are mistreated. And as you said, they are misunderstood. Most of all, most people forget that deaf people even exist.
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I said I felt fortunate for being alive, because I feel good about it personally. But when using the word privileged… to me it feels like I have to recognize my advantage over other people. I don’t like putting myself on a pedestal for, lets say, being able to hear and someone else not being to. I don’t like using the word privileged because it gives me this false sense of superiority. When in reality, a deaf person, just like a person on a wheelchair, might be smarter, more compassionate, happier, and a much stronger person than I could ever be.
“Being white is a privilege. Being male is a privilege. These are things you can't change.”
“in a parallel, if a hearing person who does not know Sign Language went to a party where everyone was Deaf and did not speak, the hearing person would be at the disadvantage and would be the “disabled” one. At the first party, the hearing people have the privilege of direct communication with each other. At the second party, the Deaf people have this privilege."
So which is it, the relative definition or the empirical definition? Is being a while male a “privilege” really something I cannot change? What if there was a draft and I went to Iraq and you did not have to? What if another country only occupied my country and only spared the “women and children” would you not feel privileged? What if you got a job because of your looks?
Needless to say I prefer your second definition of the word. It is relative.
“Notice that I've put the word "disabled" in quotes, because the word is relative for the reasons stated. Therefore, I do not believe that deaf people are disabled at all - they are completely abled except for the fact that they don't hear. Which is not a disadvantage in every situation.”
But it is in many situations. I don’t see how being deaf could ever come off as an advantage other than not hearing people nagging. =) If being deaf came at an advantage every once in a while then I could see where you are coming from; but in the state at which it is, it is simply a disadvantage, the fact that it does not propagate itself as one in every situation does retract it from being so.
Many people say Ray Charles was an amazing singer and pianist because he was blind, and had very good hearing as a consequence of not seeing. But that’s really one in billions where a disability does that.
“This is the minority I currently know the most about which is why it's the easiest for me to talk about it, so let's do this -
Imagine you're deaf. Here are some very common scenarios...”
Listen I cannot argue over the fact that people are ignorant, or sometimes simply don’t know how to react to situations they are not necessarily comfortable with.
What I meant by being shunned or mistreated was more of a general outlook on it. As in, you don’t have anti-deaf people clans, people who believe deaf people should be exported from the country etc...
The situations where they are shunned or mistreated are situational, due to people’s stupidity. Its not direct oppression by the hearing party.
Take situation number 2. As I read that, I realized that’s something I myself could have done, only to realize it was stupid on my part afterward. It’s a stupid thing to say, but its really a common reaction for anyone to say “im sorry” in a situation like that.
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http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1907732
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sorry I ddint call I have been busy with finals all damn week.
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We'll talk eventually but I think we might have to agree to disagree on this one. You're still not getting what I'm saying and I bet you feel the same way. Meh.
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