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I Wish I Was A Privileged Liberal
A personal account on coming back to politics. Because things have got worse. And because I can't afford to fall asleep.
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On Intersectionality & Privilege: BONUS!
So. I was at the pub last night… Wait. I have never started anything with that line. I have to make the most of it. I was at the pub last night, not drinking, and getting frustrated because the kitchen had closed and mama wanted curly fries. And by “mama” I mean ME, of course. Even though I’m not a mother. Nevermind… The guy at the bar offered me “crisps” instead. And I gave him a look that said “do I LOOK like the kind of person who will settle for crisps when she wants curly fries?”. I’m digressing here… So, I was the pub last night not drinking and…
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On Intersectionality & Privilege: Part 4
The Personal side of “intersectionality & privilege”: The “stuff” aspect We all have “stuff” with regards to intersectionality and privilege. Because we are all… trying to “get somewhere” in life and seeing how difficult and near impossible it is. The people who know about intersectionality and privilege, and who go on about them, are the people who, for whatever reason, want to be “somewhere cool up there” but aren’t there yet, and feel the reason is that they don’t look like those people “up there”. Which reminds me… why do we have the concept of “privilege”, if it doesn’t help us change the world? Oh, right… The reason why we…
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On Intersectionality & Privilege: Part 3
Purely Political Theory I don’t like to talk about “privilege”. For many reasons. But one of them is that it is tied too close to the sense of “meritocracy”. Saying that someone is “privileged” means more or less “you are further along this race than me, and that’s unfair”. Not only are we then caught up in thinking of life as a “race” (which is bad for our mental health), but we’re also assuming that the “meritocracy” kinda works. That indeed, were it not for “privilege”, the talented would rise to the top. I don’t have time to go into all the reasons why the meritocracy sucks, but I will…
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On Intersectionality & Privilege: Part 2
Purely Political Theory I don’t like “intersectionality” as a political concept. Wait. Let me start by saying I’m a political theory junkie. Yes, I am… I admit it. “My name is Mary Tracy and I’m Political Theory Addict”. (Actually, I’m addicted to learning, and politics is particularly fun, but I’m digressing) And political theory junkie that I am I like my theories simple, powerful and full of truth. See, intersectionality is not a “theory”. It’s a mere… “statement”. People say “intersectionality means people are oppressed in different ways” and I say “cool! … And…?” Exactly. “And…?”. *crickets* It’s not that the concept is “wrong”; it’s “right”. It’s just that we…
