A crash course in social justice
April 7, 2023 9:10 PM Subscribe
A white American woman in her 30s wants to learn about social justice for professional reasons. She is pretty well educated; she has a Master's degree in International Relations. However, her understanding of racism, sexism, ableism, transphobia, etc. is....lacking. She wants to learn as much as she can over the next few weeks so she can have a comfortable conversation with progressives. What would you recommend she read or listen to?
She has a passing familiarity with Black Lives Matter, for example, but she thinks of Queen Elizabeth as a great example of a strong female leader. The folks she will be talking to in a few weeks refer to "birthing persons" and "cis privilege" and think of Queen Elizabeth as a perpetuator of colonialism. She does not want to debate them -- she wants to appear reasonably knowledgeable and be able to use similar vocabulary. She doesn't have time to read 100 books. Maybe 1 or 2 books? Maybe several articles or podcasts? Where should she start?
Note: I am not the woman in question. I have the opportunity to share resources with her. Thanks for your help!
She has a passing familiarity with Black Lives Matter, for example, but she thinks of Queen Elizabeth as a great example of a strong female leader. The folks she will be talking to in a few weeks refer to "birthing persons" and "cis privilege" and think of Queen Elizabeth as a perpetuator of colonialism. She does not want to debate them -- she wants to appear reasonably knowledgeable and be able to use similar vocabulary. She doesn't have time to read 100 books. Maybe 1 or 2 books? Maybe several articles or podcasts? Where should she start?
Note: I am not the woman in question. I have the opportunity to share resources with her. Thanks for your help!
Best answer: I just listened to an episode of a podcast about words called the Allusionist which talked about the term Misogynoir. It's only 22 minutes long and may be an interesting window into some of these topics. The webpage for the episode also has some interesting related links.
posted by My Kryptonite is Worry at 10:04 PM on April 7, 2023
posted by My Kryptonite is Worry at 10:04 PM on April 7, 2023
Best answer: The folks she will be talking to may have norms for including some or all of this list during introductions.
posted by aniola at 10:11 PM on April 7, 2023
posted by aniola at 10:11 PM on April 7, 2023
These folks might not be not so invested in whether she can have a comfortable conversation and appear reasonably knowledgeable, so much as they are invested in... I don't know, it depends a lot on what these specific progressives are progressiving about. Some issue or other.
Knowing some vocabulary helps everybody, but understanding when it makes sense to be uncomfortable may help more.
posted by away for regrooving at 11:39 PM on April 7, 2023 [8 favorites]
Knowing some vocabulary helps everybody, but understanding when it makes sense to be uncomfortable may help more.
posted by away for regrooving at 11:39 PM on April 7, 2023 [8 favorites]
She wants to learn as much as she can over the next few weeks so she can have a comfortable conversation with progressives.
I think she should plan to be uncomfortable and to do more listening than talking. I also think there is no such thing as a "crash course" in social justice and the issues and perspectives that may be covered in this conversation could vary wildly dependent upon the reason for the conversation and the people she is talking to.
And for whatever it's worth, I also feel it important to note that "social justice" does not mean the same thing to everyone and she doesn't need to feel rushed/bullied into aligning with what some group has decided or what she reads online over a few weeks. I personally think it is more important to take the time to arrive at your own perspective thoughtfully, over time.
posted by fies at 5:14 AM on April 8, 2023 [16 favorites]
I think she should plan to be uncomfortable and to do more listening than talking. I also think there is no such thing as a "crash course" in social justice and the issues and perspectives that may be covered in this conversation could vary wildly dependent upon the reason for the conversation and the people she is talking to.
And for whatever it's worth, I also feel it important to note that "social justice" does not mean the same thing to everyone and she doesn't need to feel rushed/bullied into aligning with what some group has decided or what she reads online over a few weeks. I personally think it is more important to take the time to arrive at your own perspective thoughtfully, over time.
posted by fies at 5:14 AM on April 8, 2023 [16 favorites]
Yeah, I agree with fies/away for regrooving, this isn't something you can "hack" nor is it likely necessary - it might help if you can share more about this future meeting - why is your friend meeting with these people? I'm assuming it's not merely a social gathering? For example, if for work she's the point person to talk with some people at a lefty political organization, I'd just focus on the pragmatics of whatever the meeting is about - there is no need, for example, for her to give her opinion on the British monarchy or really anything.
Generally, conversations are more productive when you focus on what you have in common - and I am assuming there is some shared goal that is causing her to have this meeting with them? If she feels out of her depth, I'd just try to a) take an interest in getting to know them by asking questions about their goals/interests and b) being pragmatic and keeping a focus on their shared goal.
All that said, I've found Some of My Best Friends Are to be a very thoughtful podcast - race comes up most frequently, but not exclusively.
posted by coffeecat at 7:56 AM on April 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
Generally, conversations are more productive when you focus on what you have in common - and I am assuming there is some shared goal that is causing her to have this meeting with them? If she feels out of her depth, I'd just try to a) take an interest in getting to know them by asking questions about their goals/interests and b) being pragmatic and keeping a focus on their shared goal.
All that said, I've found Some of My Best Friends Are to be a very thoughtful podcast - race comes up most frequently, but not exclusively.
posted by coffeecat at 7:56 AM on April 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
This isn't exactly a resource recommendation, but I am–broadly speaking–such a progressive, and work with people like this woman very regularly. More than cramming any specific material, it is tremendously helpful when they're just up-front about being open to ongoing input/corrections when needed. Now. I am generally literally being paid to talk to them, which makes a difference in my patience for being the teacher, though technically I'm being paid to teach them a related thing and I'd be justified in telling them to find someone else to help bring them up to speed on vocabulary and ways of thinking. But since I want more "birthing parent"-type discourse in the world, the relief of having someone who's not fully on board yet but is actually willing to learn is enough that I don't generally mind. I do however very much appreciate if each individual instance where I'm offering that sort of meta-commentary is explicitly welcomed. So if they had said "mom" when that word wasn't actually sufficient to cover everything they were trying to include (and/or included people they didn't mean to), it's really nice if they seem genuinely interested and excited about realizing all of the assumptions underlying such a word and why we're trying to do better. Basically, if someone does offer her such help, she should realize that for them, it may not be so much "theory" as their own actual lived experiences and pain, and treat it with appropriate respect.
Regarding what she could do in the meanwhile, I think I'd focus on buffing her understanding of BLM. The difference in conversing with white people who get it and white people who don't is pretty profound, and even reading one good book (How to Be an Antiracist comes to mind as an approachable text) should help move her towards the former category. I think others are correct that each "progressive" will have specific things they hold especially dear, but that one she should definitely come in knowing what it is because it probably sounds like what she thinks of as "being a good person" but leaving it at that isn't enough.
Practicing the use of they/them (and other pronoun sets, if she'd like) for individual people who may have a variety of gender presentations would also be a solid use of time. I like minus18's pronouns quiz (best on mobile) paired with a random face generator. She can also work on imagining herself deploying the correct reaction to making a mistake about someone's pronouns: "sorry, I meant [X]," and then move on.
I'm realizing that actually this is turning into just a list of things I want everyone to do so I'll stop now, but I still think it wouldn't be wrong for her to specifically prepare for this encounter in such a manner.
posted by teremala at 8:05 AM on April 8, 2023 [5 favorites]
Regarding what she could do in the meanwhile, I think I'd focus on buffing her understanding of BLM. The difference in conversing with white people who get it and white people who don't is pretty profound, and even reading one good book (How to Be an Antiracist comes to mind as an approachable text) should help move her towards the former category. I think others are correct that each "progressive" will have specific things they hold especially dear, but that one she should definitely come in knowing what it is because it probably sounds like what she thinks of as "being a good person" but leaving it at that isn't enough.
Practicing the use of they/them (and other pronoun sets, if she'd like) for individual people who may have a variety of gender presentations would also be a solid use of time. I like minus18's pronouns quiz (best on mobile) paired with a random face generator. She can also work on imagining herself deploying the correct reaction to making a mistake about someone's pronouns: "sorry, I meant [X]," and then move on.
I'm realizing that actually this is turning into just a list of things I want everyone to do so I'll stop now, but I still think it wouldn't be wrong for her to specifically prepare for this encounter in such a manner.
posted by teremala at 8:05 AM on April 8, 2023 [5 favorites]
So You Want to Talk About Race
Google the Queen and colonization - a ton of articles come up.
ALOK is a trans artist who might be good to follow. https://alokvmenon.komi.io/
posted by foxjacket at 8:30 AM on April 8, 2023
Google the Queen and colonization - a ton of articles come up.
ALOK is a trans artist who might be good to follow. https://alokvmenon.komi.io/
posted by foxjacket at 8:30 AM on April 8, 2023
If she has an IR degree, at least she understands racism from one angle.
I'd recommend Women, Race, and Class by Angela Davis, Trans Liberation Beyond Pink or Blue by Leslie Feinberg, and A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn.
If she just wants a rundown of all the right things to say I'm pretty sure everydayfeminism.com is still publishing their listicles.
posted by jy4m at 9:03 AM on April 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
I'd recommend Women, Race, and Class by Angela Davis, Trans Liberation Beyond Pink or Blue by Leslie Feinberg, and A People's History of the United States by Howard Zinn.
If she just wants a rundown of all the right things to say I'm pretty sure everydayfeminism.com is still publishing their listicles.
posted by jy4m at 9:03 AM on April 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
That's a lot to try and cover. I think a basic understanding of privilege as a concept will go a long way. The Invisible Knapsack is old, but short and helpful if she is already feminist.
On Queen Elizabeth II specifically, then maybe this Priyamvada Gopal article in Al Jazeera, although it's a little dense. Gopal is a well informed writer.
It's really hard to pass as an informed person if you're not absolutely certain of your vocabulary. Regardless of how much revision she does, she'd be better off admitting/apologising that she might get some words wrong but is open to correction. People may not be nice about correcting her, even so.
posted by plonkee at 9:20 AM on April 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
On Queen Elizabeth II specifically, then maybe this Priyamvada Gopal article in Al Jazeera, although it's a little dense. Gopal is a well informed writer.
It's really hard to pass as an informed person if you're not absolutely certain of your vocabulary. Regardless of how much revision she does, she'd be better off admitting/apologising that she might get some words wrong but is open to correction. People may not be nice about correcting her, even so.
posted by plonkee at 9:20 AM on April 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
I just want to add that no one organization or individual is an authority on the issues that you've listed. For example, Black Lives Matter has been mentioned. While they have gotten a lot of attention, I am a progressive black person who doesn't agree with their approach or agenda and don't consider them credible for learning about racism. If I had to, I would point someone to one hundred other information sources and advocates before BLM. That's just me, but an example of why I think people really need to take the time to learn from diverse sources and craft their own perspective rather than fall in line with the loudest voices on an issue.
posted by fies at 11:04 AM on April 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
posted by fies at 11:04 AM on April 8, 2023 [4 favorites]
Agree with listening more than speaking.
And in broad strokes, it's just good practice to speak to any group of people as though "other kinds" of people are in the room listening--I know a lot of left-leaning people who will still use casually ableist or homophobic language (think jokes about Donald Trump's body and him having a sexual relationship with Putin, that kind of thing), despite swearing up and down that they're allies. But they don't speak as though their words affect people. That someone queer or fat (for example) is paying attention and making note of the fact that the speaker is not safe or respectful of their identities.
posted by knotty knots at 2:27 PM on April 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
And in broad strokes, it's just good practice to speak to any group of people as though "other kinds" of people are in the room listening--I know a lot of left-leaning people who will still use casually ableist or homophobic language (think jokes about Donald Trump's body and him having a sexual relationship with Putin, that kind of thing), despite swearing up and down that they're allies. But they don't speak as though their words affect people. That someone queer or fat (for example) is paying attention and making note of the fact that the speaker is not safe or respectful of their identities.
posted by knotty knots at 2:27 PM on April 8, 2023 [3 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks so much for the specific resources folks have shared! The vocab lists, book suggestions, and podcasts are really helpful. Please keep them coming if you have more ideas.
For those who have asked, she will be giving a presentation about gender. She doesn't need to be an expert on BLM or colonialism, but she would like to be able to respond to questions without embarrassing herself or saying something unintentionally hurtful. Questions may include issues of intersectionality, and while she should certainly listen in areas that she lacks expertise, it would be great if she could at least understand the questions or know when to invite more conversation.
posted by equipoise at 9:07 PM on April 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
For those who have asked, she will be giving a presentation about gender. She doesn't need to be an expert on BLM or colonialism, but she would like to be able to respond to questions without embarrassing herself or saying something unintentionally hurtful. Questions may include issues of intersectionality, and while she should certainly listen in areas that she lacks expertise, it would be great if she could at least understand the questions or know when to invite more conversation.
posted by equipoise at 9:07 PM on April 8, 2023 [1 favorite]
Does she have a progressively-minded friend or relative who might be able to preview her talk and point out places where she might say something inadvertently controversial?
And I'm curious -- how did she find herself tasked with giving a talk on gender to a progressive group unless she has particular expertise in the topic? The idea of "cramming" for a talk on a hot-button issue, to be delivered to a group with a very particular worldview, seems terrifying to me. I can't imagine the circumstance in which I'd agree to deliver such a talk unless I had a very deep background in the topic and the current thinking around it. Nor would I ask someone to speak on it unless they had considerable relevant experience!
posted by apparently at 9:23 AM on April 10, 2023
And I'm curious -- how did she find herself tasked with giving a talk on gender to a progressive group unless she has particular expertise in the topic? The idea of "cramming" for a talk on a hot-button issue, to be delivered to a group with a very particular worldview, seems terrifying to me. I can't imagine the circumstance in which I'd agree to deliver such a talk unless I had a very deep background in the topic and the current thinking around it. Nor would I ask someone to speak on it unless they had considerable relevant experience!
posted by apparently at 9:23 AM on April 10, 2023
Best answer: Sum Of Us is a progressive advocacy and in 2015 they put out a Progressive Style Guide. Obviously that was a while ago so some things will be a bit out of date, but I looked at it a few years ago and it was still pretty solid. I'm assuming based on your update she's looking for the right language to use so her presentation doesn't get derailed by accidentally phrasing something wrong, and this kind of guide is helpful for that.
I think one general rule of thumb if she's talking about gender - when you're using gendered terms, think about if it's absolutely necessary to specify "men" or "women" and if that actually captures who you are talking about. For instance, I sometimes write content about reproductive care and justice. I initially bristled at gender-neutral language to talk about abortion because it sounded very clinical to me (even though at the time I was literally working for a clinic!). However, in talking to clinic staff I realized how important it was to make EVERY patient feel comfortable, but especially those who might already be feeling very out-of-place or anxious about just being there. So we just started saying "pregnant people" instead of "pregnant women" or "people who have periods" if we're talking about menstrual care.
I personally came to the conclusion that the key is to find language that is inclusive without being unwieldy. "Birthing persons" sounds unwieldy, which makes it more noticeable and potentially alienating. "Pregnant people" rolls off the tongue a lot easier but is still inclusive.
posted by lunasol at 3:09 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
I think one general rule of thumb if she's talking about gender - when you're using gendered terms, think about if it's absolutely necessary to specify "men" or "women" and if that actually captures who you are talking about. For instance, I sometimes write content about reproductive care and justice. I initially bristled at gender-neutral language to talk about abortion because it sounded very clinical to me (even though at the time I was literally working for a clinic!). However, in talking to clinic staff I realized how important it was to make EVERY patient feel comfortable, but especially those who might already be feeling very out-of-place or anxious about just being there. So we just started saying "pregnant people" instead of "pregnant women" or "people who have periods" if we're talking about menstrual care.
I personally came to the conclusion that the key is to find language that is inclusive without being unwieldy. "Birthing persons" sounds unwieldy, which makes it more noticeable and potentially alienating. "Pregnant people" rolls off the tongue a lot easier but is still inclusive.
posted by lunasol at 3:09 PM on April 11, 2023 [1 favorite]
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posted by aniola at 10:00 PM on April 7, 2023 [5 favorites]