What I appreciate most about this post is how Vicki owns her own power, privilege, and -isms, including the internalized ageism that she'd like to transform in herself and in the world.
We who advocate for social justice and equity need to see and do the accountable and compassionate reflection and consciousness-raising that Vicki models in this blog post. We have all internalized the psychosocial patterns that drive systems of power and privilege. It's not enough to be political progressives who campaign for political and workplace reforms. Telling other people and the world what's wrong is the easier part of the path to liberation. When we remain comfortably blind to and casually neglectful of our own participation in the very abuses we so passionately wish and work to remedy, we're resting on the very power, privilege, and entitlement that we ask others to see in themselves and our leaders to change in the world.
If reading this causes you to squirm, good. Discomfort is an unavoidable and juicy part of social change. If it has you thinking there's no time for personal transformation when we have a world to change, ask yourself how effective you can be in supporting transformation of other people and social systems if you're not walking the path you hope to help others navigate.
I'm taking Vicki's "Do Tell" to heart, and working on an essay about my own internalized sexism. The more we reflect, own, and share our personal and public journeys out of the patterns of domination that shape our world and our psyches, the more we lift the isolation that blocks collective action for liberation.
Thank you, Vicki Robin, for your courage, honesty, and leadership.
The workers in the ferry line started asking me in my late fifties if I needed a senior fare..... for me, I found this amusing and didn't take it personally...and when I became old enough to qualify for the discount I was happy, because, why not? I agree that we all have been raised in this society with an age-ist, sexist, racist, etc.-ist mind set, and for many of us, as we become aware of this we strive to re-think and re-feel and become more open-minded and open-hearted. Not everyone strives for this or is even willing to be aware of it. And even the most aware of us are 'guilty' of making a stray comment that doesn't intentionally mean anything, but may really bother someone else, and it's good when it's pointed out so we can learn and choose to grow from it. I just try to be kind and loving, something I often succeed at, but not every moment of every day. I still get plenty of opportunities to re-think and re-explore something I thought I knew or was comfortable with. Always appreciate your words, Vicki, and always appreciate YOU and your willingness to explore and articulate what so many shrink from. Thanks!
Wonderful, thought-provoking post! I see all this in myself, too…. all the while, my wiser, honoring self sees beyond. I look forward to hearing how this progresses in you…. and me, too:)
What I appreciate most about this post is how Vicki owns her own power, privilege, and -isms, including the internalized ageism that she'd like to transform in herself and in the world.
We who advocate for social justice and equity need to see and do the accountable and compassionate reflection and consciousness-raising that Vicki models in this blog post. We have all internalized the psychosocial patterns that drive systems of power and privilege. It's not enough to be political progressives who campaign for political and workplace reforms. Telling other people and the world what's wrong is the easier part of the path to liberation. When we remain comfortably blind to and casually neglectful of our own participation in the very abuses we so passionately wish and work to remedy, we're resting on the very power, privilege, and entitlement that we ask others to see in themselves and our leaders to change in the world.
If reading this causes you to squirm, good. Discomfort is an unavoidable and juicy part of social change. If it has you thinking there's no time for personal transformation when we have a world to change, ask yourself how effective you can be in supporting transformation of other people and social systems if you're not walking the path you hope to help others navigate.
I'm taking Vicki's "Do Tell" to heart, and working on an essay about my own internalized sexism. The more we reflect, own, and share our personal and public journeys out of the patterns of domination that shape our world and our psyches, the more we lift the isolation that blocks collective action for liberation.
Thank you, Vicki Robin, for your courage, honesty, and leadership.
Great piece, Vicki! We are so on the same wavelength. I just shared this post on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mayafrost_gender-ageism-workplace-activity-7198302801150533634-cib5?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
The workers in the ferry line started asking me in my late fifties if I needed a senior fare..... for me, I found this amusing and didn't take it personally...and when I became old enough to qualify for the discount I was happy, because, why not? I agree that we all have been raised in this society with an age-ist, sexist, racist, etc.-ist mind set, and for many of us, as we become aware of this we strive to re-think and re-feel and become more open-minded and open-hearted. Not everyone strives for this or is even willing to be aware of it. And even the most aware of us are 'guilty' of making a stray comment that doesn't intentionally mean anything, but may really bother someone else, and it's good when it's pointed out so we can learn and choose to grow from it. I just try to be kind and loving, something I often succeed at, but not every moment of every day. I still get plenty of opportunities to re-think and re-explore something I thought I knew or was comfortable with. Always appreciate your words, Vicki, and always appreciate YOU and your willingness to explore and articulate what so many shrink from. Thanks!
Right on - a big topic and one many of us aging folks needs to take seriously! -well everybody - but its insidious in older folks - me included.
Wonderful, thought-provoking post! I see all this in myself, too…. all the while, my wiser, honoring self sees beyond. I look forward to hearing how this progresses in you…. and me, too:)