tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497590882427981984.post586459783892720126..comments2023-05-11T05:07:27.256-07:00Comments on Cave Paint: Institutionalized BlindnessElijahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14750563072785809935noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497590882427981984.post-14465354170575740882009-10-19T00:32:33.743-07:002009-10-19T00:32:33.743-07:00This is the most reoccurring and frustrating thing...This is the most reoccurring and frustrating thing you will find in any white-dominated community. Unfortunetly, it's the steady stream of white-do-gooders that piss me off the most.Fawnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17998879410710342577noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8497590882427981984.post-12327986475101477452009-10-14T11:37:01.318-07:002009-10-14T11:37:01.318-07:00I really like this, Eli.
I was trying to grasp th...I really like this, Eli. <br />I was trying to grasp the idea of the fine line between empowerment work by those who are marginalized (and need to be empowered) and by those who are in positions of control (those already empowered people). <br />For example, the process of women's empowerment in developing countries: men are superior to women in most of these states' current systems. Of course, women must WANT to empower themselves and they must have the knowledge to do so. But, they must also have the means and the access to change what needs to be changed in the system. So, it becomes so much more difficult (I hesitate to say 'impossible') for the position of women to improve in a society where men are not sensitized or supportive the cause. While women don't absolutely need men to oppose the system, peaceful progress toward empowerment comes only when all groups are aware of the situation and need for change. The same goes for minority races and others facing obstacles in today's society.<br />Of course, there will always be those people and groups who continue to discriminate against marginalized groups (ignorance being the key perpetrator here), but I believe in the good of humanity when it is exposed to education. So, while I definitely agree that there is no way we will ever be able to fully understand what it feels like to be poor, disabled, black, or any other marginalized group, I think our role in empowerment is also very important. This is mainly because we are in the position to potentially influence our fellow members of the majority group (white, middle class, generally prosperous) to bring change through the institutions we (unfortunately) control more than those minority groups. So, I believe that the involvement of members of both the oppressed minority and the majority doing the oppressing is crucial.<br />I realize that in this specific instance about which you wrote, there should definitely have been more minority involvement. But, our inability to absolutely understand what being a minority means doesn't prevent us from helping the cause.Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03499816817932823703noreply@blogger.com