Acknowledging the “isms”

There is a contingent of folks who will eagerly acknowledge classism, but will deny racism, sexism, ableism, or any other “ism.”

Why?

Probably because they, or those close to them, have either personally experienced classism or they are more able to witness it in society, because it is more visible or tangible to them.

Many “isms” exist. Some people experience multiple “isms” that make them more vulnerable to harm in our current society. This is called intersectionality (a framework created by Kimberle Crenshaw).

So, for example, if you are disabled, you likely experience some form of ableism. If you are Black, female and disabled, you experience an intersection of prejudices that combine to be incredibly overwhelming and debilitating.

To deny the lived experiences of people who deal with these “isms” is to deny one another’s humanity. Why would we do that? Well, usually because we have not been acknowledged for our own pain (but that’s another post).

As we heal our own internal stories, we may personally experience less impact from these “isms” in our life, even if we belong to one of these historically oppressed groups, but that doesn’t mean they cease to exist in the collective as systemic issues. So, collectively denying them doesn’t get us anywhere.

Address the inner stories. Address the collective stories. Actively acknowledging the “isms” in the world is not what creates divisiveness. The oppression is what creates divisiveness.

That’s a major difference.

Acknowledge your own pain. Acknowledge the pain of others. This is part of how we heal the world (assuming you are into that kinda thing).