"Maybe this song isn't for us" a terrified Bobby Moynihan exclaims, "but everything usually is!" Cecily Strong replies. By now I'm sure that most of us have already seen Beyonce's new video and Super Bowl performance of Formation. After her performance the talks surrounding her song ranged from confused and uncomfortable, to empowered and recognized, and I think that these discussions are showing how incredibly important it is to have a space, a song, an anything that are for marginalized groups only.
While I think that allies are a very important aspect in any organization and can really help share the load, I think that knowing when to take a back seat and not take part is extremely important as well. "Any group whether organized around a shared marginalized identity or not, will by-default be centered around the most powerful in that group"(Kyra). Because of this, white people are used to being in power and when they have to give up this power, then they feel that they are being left out, and not included. However, like we talked about in class, when diverse groups get together, it can often turn into an oppression olympics, and one problem often gets overshadowed by hundreds of other problems, which essentially makes sure that nothing gets done. Along with this power stance, the inclusion of white allies into non-white spaces upholds white supremacy. Because white people are so often in power, they get to choose what is appropriate in that space and what isn't, which essentially white washes the group and strips it of its diversity. Take the video for example, when the woman is yelling "we have to go, we have to leave America, Beyonce is black", to which the woman she's talking to responds "Amy, I'm black". Amy seems shocked and confused but when her friend points to a man wearing a flat billed hat and a large pendant necklace she responds "well I know he's black". This just goes to show how colorblindness hurts us, but also how the person in power (Amy) gets to choose what is appropriate (her friend dressed in a similar outfit to the rest of the crowd), and what is not (the man dressed in the flat billed hat and pendant).
While most feminist spaces pride themselves on being "inclusive" and "diverse", there also needs to be spaces that can be for marginalized groups only to come together and discuss issues without feeling overshadowed. When starting this post I was trying to find a video that talked about safe spaces and instead found pages and pages of videos talking about how safe spaces are useless and completely pointless, mostly made by white men. So my question for you is do you think that safe spaces are important? And is it ok to exclude people from certain spaces?
I feel that safe spaces are very important because I look at it as a community. We do not share the same experiences, therefore those spaces where we can let go, and just be comfortable are necessary.
ReplyDeleteI feel that safe spaces are very important because I look at it as a community. We do not share the same experiences, therefore those spaces where we can let go, and just be comfortable are necessary.
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ReplyDeleteI think safe-spaces are necessary not only because they serve as a place for people's own voices to be heard and not overshadowed by voices with more power, but they also serve as a place people can relax and be comfortable saying their own opinions without fear of being unwelcome. I can see how this potentially could also be a criticism of safe spaces because strengthening certain opinions through safe places is not always considered valuable to others outside the safe space. For example, ISIS' jihadism. I think this argument could slightly become a slipperly slope, but, overall, I think it is very valuable for marginalized people in our society to have a safe place to talk, vent, and express themselves and their frustrations. I think when it stops becoming non-violent that's when the acceptability of a safe space becomes in question.
ReplyDeleteAs for excluding others from the group, I think it varies on context when excluding whites, for example, from an activity or shared experience with people of color is a necessary or conducive thing. It's hard for me to draw the line because I'm not a person of color and I can't really relate to feeling like people are dominating/intruding on my dialogue or connection with others who actually share my experience, but I definitely think it should be judged on an individualized basis of when a person is actually an offender of dominating space. As necessary as it is to exclude others from conversation sometimes, I know there are many times when it is important for everyone to be present and be heard. I also know as a person belonging to many subgroups, there are times when I want to be part of the discussion or experience of another subgroup I don't belong with, and I don't want to be excluded because people assume I won't understand or that I'll try to dominate discussion. Although I have a hard time agreeing with constant and universal exclusion, I agree with author Kyra's point in "How to Uphold White Supremacy by Focusing on Diversity and Inclusion" that safe spaces are essential, especially for marginalized individuals because it gives them a chance to speak and prevents further marginalization of members of an already marginalized group.