Today's advice: believe women.
Especially Black women.
Especially trans women.
I have learned so much from doing this even when it was (initially) quite difficult because of what I thought I knew about the world. I am better for having listened.
🇳🇱
@Blenster If a trans woman and a black woman disagree, which one should we default to believing?
Call me strange, but my beleif in a person is based on their demonstrated honesty, the color of your skin or history of your genitals isnt going to effect that, nor should it. But by the same token you shouldnt discount **anyone** if their claims are serious unless you have good reason to think that person is dishonest, if you dont you should try your best to give them the benefit of the doubt and try to verify any claims if you can.
So what im hearing is its not "believe <insert minority here" what you really mean is "listen to <insert minority here>"... if thats the case I whole heartily agree.
> Reducing this to a statement about believing one individual over another misses the point and leads to no new knowledge or understanding.
I agree, which is effectively my disagreement with "believe people who are minorities".. as you point out reducing this to a statement of believing individuals based on skin color leads to no new knowledge or understanding.. but a statement about "take the time to listen to minorities" does.
@freemo yeah; one can quibble over the semantics but the general message is to listen and believe their experiences and use that new knowledge to better inform our actions.
Too often people will listen politely but not believe them and therefore not be called to action to fight for their rights. Merely letting them speak isn't enough; we must actually listen.
Thank you for having a nice conversation about this; I've seen too many who, well, don't.
Yea, I agree, actively listening of course is essential. Dismissing and hearing without any further action isnt helpful.
On the subject of listening to women, especially Black and trans women, and fighting for their rights:
Freemo, to whom you're responding, often encourages his followers to let Trump win the next election. He says it's okay that millions of women are at risk of dying because of barbaric anti-abortion rights laws. He's fine with Black girls being taught in school that slavery was beneficial. Republicans are now outlawing the very existence of trans people. Freemo is okay with that.
@freemo I think you're missing the point; the question is are you doing so deliberately?
No one individual of any background or group is perfect. One should instead listen to many voices and seek out patterns and consensus.
Listening to women talk about their experiences in the workforce with men who ignore them, talk down to them, steal their ideas, or harass them will lead to finding universal patterns of behavior you can accept as reflections of a reality we don't typically experience.
Listening to Black women will add layers of understanding regarding how racism plays a role in their treatment in life.
Etc.
Listening to many voices and seeking to find an understanding will help you grow your awareness and learn how to be a more effective helper and ally as we work to overcome these societal imbalances and make a more equitable world for us all to share.
Reducing this to a statement about believing one individual over another misses the point and leads to no new knowledge or understanding.