The illumination of recognition of privilege? If only more people experienced that...
It's interesting to me because it was something I was raised to believe and be aware of* but I also have this feeling of a sort of "moment" (not really a moment because it was an experience that encompassed years) when I was 9. We moved to Botswana and I realized that while I understood I wasn't supposed to make judgments based on skin color, I had to learn not to do it based on a person's clothes or class either, and that was so unconscious and ingrained in me that it was a painful and humbling realization. I think as Americans, many of us buy into the idea that if you don't have nice clothes and a nice car and many of the other symbols of so-called success, you can't really be a happy or successful person. It's a realization that I find a bit difficult to express and I have a hard time conveying to others. It's frustrating, too, because I'll tell people I think it would be good if everyone had that opportunity and they try to turn it into another way of counting coup in a classist sense ("surely, living in southern Africa isn't necessary to get these insights; there are plenty of places in Western Europe that would do just as well and are so much nicer/safer/etc"). Bleah. Actually, on further reflection, their rejection of Africa is probably pretty much outright racism (of the hidden variety evinced by many liberals who claim to be allies) rather than classism (though of course they go hand in hand). I hate people sometimes.
Ironically, my awareness of feminist issues and male privilege came much, much later - it took getting a good distance away from an abusive relationship before I realized how much sexism directed at me I was just swallowing without question.
Also, I know I should not be surprised by the comments on that thread and on some level I'm not and yet I am. The level of smug self-satisfied ignorance there... ugh.
*Being taught and actually understanding are totally separate, especially when those who are doing the teaching also have a flawed understanding. At least there was a greater opportunity for us to learn than for most, however; and for that I am very grateful.
It's interesting to me because it was something I was raised to believe and be aware of* but I also have this feeling of a sort of "moment" (not really a moment because it was an experience that encompassed years) when I was 9. We moved to Botswana and I realized that while I understood I wasn't supposed to make judgments based on skin color, I had to learn not to do it based on a person's clothes or class either, and that was so unconscious and ingrained in me that it was a painful and humbling realization. I think as Americans, many of us buy into the idea that if you don't have nice clothes and a nice car and many of the other symbols of so-called success, you can't really be a happy or successful person. It's a realization that I find a bit difficult to express and I have a hard time conveying to others. It's frustrating, too, because I'll tell people I think it would be good if everyone had that opportunity and they try to turn it into another way of counting coup in a classist sense ("surely, living in southern Africa isn't necessary to get these insights; there are plenty of places in Western Europe that would do just as well and are so much nicer/safer/etc"). Bleah. Actually, on further reflection, their rejection of Africa is probably pretty much outright racism (of the hidden variety evinced by many liberals who claim to be allies) rather than classism (though of course they go hand in hand). I hate people sometimes.
Ironically, my awareness of feminist issues and male privilege came much, much later - it took getting a good distance away from an abusive relationship before I realized how much sexism directed at me I was just swallowing without question.
Also, I know I should not be surprised by the comments on that thread and on some level I'm not and yet I am. The level of smug self-satisfied ignorance there... ugh.
*Being taught and actually understanding are totally separate, especially when those who are doing the teaching also have a flawed understanding. At least there was a greater opportunity for us to learn than for most, however; and for that I am very grateful.
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