I did say it's not a perfect mechanism, and there have been instances where it has been abused.
But IMO it is not "oppression by a different group." To request non-sexist language in academia, for example, or to ask that racist jokes be barred from a workplace, is not even analogously similar to the combined effects of exploitation, discrimination, violence, self-loathing, and so on.
It might feel 'oppressive' because it means that the speaker or writer is imposed upon to take into account someone else's point of view.
But that reaction overlooks the fact that targets of sexism, racism, homophobia, etc., are already imposed upon in that way, because they have to cope with the way their lives are altered by the views of others. Requests like the two kinds I described above place a very small imposition compared to the intrusive imposition of sexism, racism, homophobia, etc. on one's life.
IOW, being barred from telling racist jokes at work is a very small intrusion compared to the barriers faced by minority people every day in every sector of life.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2005-06-24 10:32 am (UTC)But IMO it is not "oppression by a different group." To request non-sexist language in academia, for example, or to ask that racist jokes be barred from a workplace, is not even analogously similar to the combined effects of exploitation, discrimination, violence, self-loathing, and so on.
It might feel 'oppressive' because it means that the speaker or writer is imposed upon to take into account someone else's point of view.
But that reaction overlooks the fact that targets of sexism, racism, homophobia, etc., are already imposed upon in that way, because they have to cope with the way their lives are altered by the views of others. Requests like the two kinds I described above place a very small imposition compared to the intrusive imposition of sexism, racism, homophobia, etc. on one's life.
IOW, being barred from telling racist jokes at work is a very small intrusion compared to the barriers faced by minority people every day in every sector of life.