Radical CUNTS

fromonesurvivortoanother:

quelola:

Everything that applies to call outs when discussing race, gender, sexuality, privilege, apply alllllll of that to call outs regarding ableism as well. Are they the same? Hell no. That’s not what I’m saying. What I’m saying is all those tips and tools that we apply to ___ who want to be allies to ___ applies just the same when trying to be allies to the disabled community.

• If a person with a disability tells you they are feeling oppressed, take their word for it. They don’t owe it to you or anyone else to justify the ways in which they feel they are being marginalized.
• If they are letting you know ways you can accommodate their needs (don’t wear perfume around me, can we move some chairs out of the room, I need a little bit more social distancing space between myself and the person next to me), they are doing you a favor, so thank them.
• Understand that it ain’t about you. It ain’t personal. Don’t say like you feel like an asshole now for being called out, or that it makes you feel like they are downplaying your experiences, it ain’t really about you. Your feelings are valid, but because you are in oppressed group A does not mean you are not capable of oppressing group B.
• There is no hierarchy, structure, or levels of disability. Saying there is leaves room to invalidate those with disabilities that are already socially and medically dismissed or ignored.  Ablelism is the concept that every body, person, human, experience, is valuable and is differently, it ain’t about which disability is relevant and which isn’t.
• Don’t try to dismiss or down play what they are telling you. (“It’s just perfume you’ll be fine”, “It’s just a sidewalk with no curb cut, you’ll be fine” “it’s just your rights you’ll, be fine”, “It’s just your experience, you’ll be fine”. No. No no and no.
• If you are a person with a disability, and you don’t necessarily feel like something is stopping you or holding you back, congratulations. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t apply to other folx or that others can’t find it problematic.

This sorta sounds familiar to many of you right? Feel free to add more.

Because I’m done with conversations like this and all the bullshit opinions related to it.

thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you thank you. as someone who has an invisible disability and who struggles with having others understand that it’s legitimate and life altering (even life threatning), thank you.

also, i’m tired of people acting as if people with disabilities don’t face institutionalized prejudices and obstacles.  :\

and one more thing to add:

• Just because you have had a similar experience, or just because you have dealt with _some_ disability type things does not in any way give you authority to start qualifying/dictating all other people’s experiences with disabilities as legitimate/not legitimate problems. Like in that mess last night someone said “i had cancer once and i understand getting nauseous from perfumes”, but their experience was not. The same. At all. It’s nothing like living with a certain condition your entire life and having to get lots of accommodations on a long lasting institutional level. And that person also assumed that everyone has the exact same reactions/severity and it’s SO easy to overcome blah blah.

radicalsexeducation:

Pretty much summed up in the title!

(via feminismduh)

crunkfeministcollective:

class rage speaks: Nine ways to be a good friend in the face of economic differences.

classragespeaks:

A companion to this post.

Note: There is certainly another whole category of suggestions like this which would focus on large-scale ways of creating social change. I don’t discount the importance of those, but this list is focusing on the small, everyday ways that an economically privileged person who is friends with a poor person can help to make that relationship possible and comfortable- something that I’ve struggled with personally a great deal, because most of my friends and my partner are considerably wealthier than I am. Those larger ideas, the things that really challenge how this society works, also have to be part of that conversation, but in the meantime, we still have to live together and interact. Here are some things that have been particularly important to me.

1. Spend a substantial amount of time thinking, really thinking, about all the different ways in which being wealthy and/or coming from a wealthy background benefits you. Learn about and acknowledge your privilege. Listen to poor people; take in the breadth of what they don’t have. Recognize the secondary effects of growing up wealthy- educated relatives and good schools that guided you to good colleges, or the ability to travel and seek new experiences for their own sake, or maybe just a lack of fear and worry that allows you to live your life more peacefully.  And for goodness sake, think about how you sound when you complain about very minor money woes (your parents won’t buy you X luxury item! horrors!) in front of someone who is struggling just to get by. Understand where you really stand.
2. Be self-critical and question the stereotypes you hold of poor people. These stereotypes are so pervasive that if you think you’re free of them, you’re probably mistaken. (Even I struggle with internalized classism and self-hate.)

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quelola:

I attended a workshop last week on Race and Disability. It was great to be in a room with other POC with disabilities and having an open dialogue about our experiences. I was able to snatch the below info that was a handout given to the white allies in a separate room addressing their privilege (as white folks) and oppression (as disabled folks). The page lists Beyond Diversity Resource Center as the author.

I’d like to get some feed back and maybe folks can reblog and add on some things they feel are missing. I understand that as a POC it is not my responsibility to educate folks on this, but I felt this was really valid and I couldn’t find it online, so where white folks are failing to educate themselves, I have no personal problems stepping up and doing this small deed. I also think that while this is directed at white people, there are definitely some points that I felt I could do/ do better. I also think that there are some movements that could really benefit from reading and following this that may not be about race on the surface but are dominated by white people (I’m looking at you feminism).

• Identifies and speaks out about acts of racism.

• Operates with others as a buffer against racism, but does not act condescendingly.
• Recognizes when remaining silent or being neutral operates as racial privilege.
• Is responsible for self-education about privilege, racism, and oppression; does not expect people of color to always teach him or her.
• Cultivates genuine relationships with people of color that are mutually beneficial.
• Is not arrogant about being an ally.
• Struggles continually with understanding and addressing aspects of their own racial privilege.
• Understands that the experiences of people of color regarding racism is genuine.
• Does not require people of color to prove the truth of their racial experiences or injuries.
• Acts in solidarity with people of color without supplanting them.
• Does not expect recognition or gratitude.
• Addresses racism because it is personally offensive.
• Is motivated by a quest for justice, rather than a sense of guilt.
• Is open to challenge.
• Opposes racism without conditions.
• Accepts that making mistakes is part of becoming an effective ally.
• Acknowledges and learns from his or her mistakes without retreating.
• Participants respectfully with persons of color and avoids cultural tourism.
• Responds to racist statements even when a person of color is not present or does not object.
• Is committed to social justice and to ending all forms of oppression.