This work is complex and interconnected. Some of us have a lot of privilege and some less.
1) There is the burden of the oppressed – they face oppression; they have to convince ppl it is occurring, worry about their (the oppressors) emotions, find the solutions – it is hard when you are dealing with trauma to have to think about being kind to those who are harming you.
2) There is the work of those who are aware, who are beginning or can clearly see moments of oppression and you have privilege and you understand the need to do something- so do you call out? in what ways? when you call out- is it calling in? is it going to spark change for the long term? Have we consulted those who are being harmed? – why or why not?
3) When I put this call out for learning approx 150 ppl expressed interest. There’s been about 40 ppl engaging. 40 is amazing and I am appreciating all the insights – but somewhere else 100 ppl have chosen to not engage. This, I know can be for A LOT of reasons. How do we engage more ppl if the change we want to make is for the future of all of us and to make a difference in the lives of ALL children.
These are complicated questions – all of which involve one (of many things)- our egos…when do we step up, shut up, move back, notice our fear and push forward, be silent, turn to others, ask critical friends?.. as I mentioned in my first post: “The deepest and most profound learning I’ve had from doing anti-oppression work – was the work that I needed to heal and change myself.” So I want to really turn this conversation inwards for a moment because these conversations often necessarily focus outwards.
Dr. @vidyashah at York U is doing a lot of work in this area. Check out this thread of hers: https://twitter.com/VidyaShah6/status/1179524739334901760?s=08
What is the role of our ego (and by extension the healing work necessary) in how we engage/should engage in this work?
(Thanks to those who are retweeting and encouraging others to join in the conversation – it helps)
2 Comments
Charlotte
Thx for this crucial question because teaching children can’t only be about me. The ego needs to unpack fragility & to push past discomfort. I need to recognize where I have privilege because of my social identity(ies). I need to learn about the other so that I can practise self reflection about my own biases what is culturally the norm. Whose norm? “I” should disrupt my judgement about other colleagues’, students’, and families‘ ways of knowing, being, acting in order to support students & families. How do I recognize students’ assets & strengths & leverage these to disrupt oppressive practices.
Charlotte
Change of wording for this sentence.
*I need to learn about the other so that I can practise self reflection about my own biases about what and whose cultural norms.
Remove the sentence- Whose norm?
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