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What can I do to make up for what I am? (self.socialjustice101)

Admiral_Boombox が 投稿

(Warning. I have a tendency for extreme views, I'm often called a troll because of it, I take things to the furthest conclusion, sorry beforehand for sounding ridiculous)

I'm a mixed race (half white), cis, able bodied man rich enough to rent his own home. In more ways than one I am the embodiment of privelege.

I am, however, very interested in being a good person in spite of it.

The problem is, I don't quite know how. I know it's important that I make up for my own privelege: if I were to apply for a job a woman or PoC applies for, I should opt out. I should not speak or appear in womens' spaces, I should not unduly take up space and I should minimize my presence whenever possible. I should call out my peers if they are racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic or if they are abusing their privelege; even if this leads to being ostracized or even attacked. My personal problems should never take precedence over the daily realities of marginalized groups. I should give my money to marginalized people rather than spending it on myself or those like me. I should recognize that even if I were a good enough person to do all those things consistently, my existence contributes to marginalization and (and this may sound trolly to people but I truly believe this) ideally I would end my life.

The thing is, I'm a worthless shitheel, I know what I must do but I find myself neglecting my duties out of sheer lazyness, pettiness, desire to maintain social standing or most frequently sheer stupidity.

I try my best (being a deficient piece of shit means my best is terrible), but I know I am still a problem, I am a part of injustice.

I am sorry to ask to be educated but I can't figure it out on my own, what can I do, as a very priveleged person, to make up for injustices and for what I am? Is there a way I can be anything other than a living problem?

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[–]halfercode 2 ポイント3 ポイント  (5子コメント)

I'm a worthless shitheel

(being a deficient piece of shit means my best is terrible), but I know I am still a problem, I am a part of injustice.

Are you saying that because you are feeling guilty for your privilege, or were you of that opinion anyway? If it is the latter then this would not be the best sub to advise you - a talking therapy approach would be better.

If it is the former, then you can relax - guilt is not a good response to privilege. If you are aware of it, and make some adjustments, then that is good. Not speaking over women at women's spaces is a very good start, but I would not recommend opting out of employment on the chance that a PoC might have taken it. You can only do so much to challenge systemic bias, and if you try to do too much you will burn out. Do what you can.

my existence contributes to marginalization [so] ideally I would end my life

I don't think your existence does contribute to marginalisation, if you are not an active part of perpetuating it. In fact, if you are speaking up for the marginalised then you already are an ally. Keep doing that.

[–]Admiral_Boombox[S] [スコア非表示]  (4子コメント)

Thanks for your response.

My feelings of worthlessness are personal, not exactly tied to my privelege but knowing I unjustly have it easy in life doesn't help.

I know guilt might not be a very good response and at the very least I'm in the wrong for even expressing it as that's just me being whiney and lording my personal issues over others, I should ideally refrain from discussing my emotions as they do not matter.

I do try to adjust my life, it just feels like it isn't enough, the problems persist and I am culpable as any other priveleged person is.

I don't worry about burning out, I should burn out as I don't deserve my position in life as it is anyway. Other people suffer as a direct result of society's tendency to bend over backwards for my benefit.

I do go to therapy so you were spot on for that one, I am partially conflicted on it as I don't know for sure wether I even should try and feel better about myself, but as a more happy member of society I might be more functional and thus a better ally.

Again, thanks for your response, I'll continue to try and find ways to either shine a light on marginalization, and to try to recognize my privelege and to try not to reap its unjust benefits if at all possible.

[–]Felicia_Svilling [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

I don't know for sure wether I even should try and feel better about myself

Of course you should. Everyone should have the right to feel good about themselves.

[–]halfercode [スコア非表示]  (2子コメント)

If you believe you are suffering from, say, depression, then in mental health terms you are lacking a strand of privilege. This does not take away from your privilege in other areas, such as your colour or gender, but is worth bearing in mind. You can use that recognition to teach yourself that you deserve to be heard.

In any case, if anyone is suffering mental ill health, they deserve to be listened to by someone, even if they are regarded as fully privileged.

[–]Admiral_Boombox[S] [スコア非表示]  (1子コメント)

Yeah, I know I'm not the epitome of privelege on all accounts (I'm mentally ill, bisexual, to some not white-passing, lower class and not neurotypical), but by and large my male privelege and me being raised along the lines of the overculture where I live etc. are bigger priveleges than the other parts are detriments.

It's not a game, in the end. The parts where I'm less priveleged do not matter to me as much, the privelege I do have is a bigger problem to me.

[–]Felicia_Svilling [スコア非表示]  (0子コメント)

the privelege I do have is a bigger problem to me.

Don't view it as a problem. See it as an opportunity to speak up for people lacking privilege. For example men are much more likely to listen to other men speaking up about sexism.