This blog was inspired by the panel with Judy Rebick and others, which I linked to and talked about here.

The evil MW, who spoke on the panel in question, talked about victimhood and oppression in ways very common by those on the right, as well as anyone who doesn’t understand the levels of how oppression works, and the ways in which it manifests in people’s lives.

This isn’t the first time that I’ve heard this “argument” put forth, by both ardent right-wingers, as well as white folks on the left.

This is my first attempt to articulate, in writing (rather than indignant sputtering) the flaws in this argument, and this framing, and to try to get some talking points and arguments assembled in a coherent manner.

So, the argument goes something like this:

“Why do you focus on oppression so much? Are you saying Group X* is so oppressed that everyone in Group X is just a passive, helpless victim? Now, that’s offensive! I belong to Group X (or I’m married to someone in Group X, or my best friend is from Group X or someone from Group X once sat beside me on the subway and I smiled at them, etc) and I’m (or They say they are) not oppressed! By using this language you’re manufacturing victims where none exist! Just to further your bleeding heart agenda! Shame on you!”

…or something like that. Rolleyes.

*Group X is any marginalized group, and can include people of colour, Aboriginal people, women, people who are poor / low income, queers, disabled folks, youth, seniors. And all intersections between those groups, and anyone else who experiences systemic marginality.

So, to the debunking.

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Okay, this is just a draft. And I should probably say what my book is about.

For over 10 years I’ve been writing a book in my head, a book that will be for entry-level people wanting to learn more and understand more about anti-oppression and why it’s important. It will be for white folks who don’t get it, for folks of colour who want to see connections with other oppressions, and also how to “teach” anti-racism to others, for anyone who experiences oppression and marginalization and is tired of having to explain that it’s not actually about our feelings (although not stomping around and being an ass is always lovely), it’s about the larger world and oppressive systems.

The book will be filled with real-life examples, exercises, worksheets, and spaces for self-reflection built in throughout.

So, here is my draft table of contents. The text, also in my head, will follow. There is no title yet. But you can be sure that it will be witty and clever.

1. Introduction: Locate Yourself or, Why Your Social Location Matters, and Therefore Why Your Perspective Matters When Embarking on Anti-Oppression Work

2. Understanding Power and Privilege or, Just Because You Have a Hard Time Noticing What Your Privileges are Doesn’t Mean The Rest of Us Do

3. Getting Past Self-Interest or, I’m Okay, The Rest of You Can Go F*ck Yourselves

4. Intersections: How Oppressions are Similar, asking “Who benefits?” and more

5. Counterbalance: How Oppressions are Different

6. Individual Culpability or, Watch it, You’re Spilling Your Toxic Privilege All Over Me!

7. Beyond Individual Culpability or, It’s not You, It’s the Structural Systemic Oppressions, Silly.

8. Fake Allies versus Real Allies

9. Now What or, You Will Never Know Everything, Your Learning is Never Over

10. Buncha cool resources, links, blogs