Serious musings on words
Nov. 4th, 2007 07:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ingvildWords have power. I don't mean in a magical, "don't tell people your name or they'll have control over you" kind of way. I mean that words help define how we thing about some things. Words can make you feel better, and they can hurt.
There's been a controversy with a new member of the Bergen City Council who likened integration of immigrants with training dogs. There's been some people who said he just misspoke, and that as a new person in that position, he should be given some leeway.
I couldn't disagree more. I think that this is the sort of thing that we should have zero tolerance for. I don't think this guy meant to come off a racist fuckwit, but he did. If he isn't booted out of office, it sets an unfortunate precedent for this sort of language, and it will only serve to make immigrants feel less welcome.
The thing is, no-one likes to hear the word 'racist' in conjecture with themselves. I don't think I'm racist. I don't think I've expressed any racist sentiments. However, and here's the clue: I can't be sure, because I'm a white Norwegian living in Norway. I don't know what it's like to be an ethnic minority. I might have said something insulting and [borderline] racist without being aware that it could even be perceived that way.
There's been some controversy about the word neger [negro]. It wasn't politically correct anymore, and some people weren't happy that they would have to stop using it. However, I didn't hear a single black person say it was okay to use that word. And they're the ones who should decide.
IT'S THE PEOPLE IN THE MINORITY GROUP WHO DECIDE IF A TERM IS INSULTING OR NOT.
In fact, if I find a term insulting, don't tell me that I'm being overly sensitive. If I say that I don't like being called kjerring [bitch/hag], don't call me that.
I'm white, and I'm straight. This means that I automatically see things from a Caucasian and hetero-normative perspective. I find that I accept some things, and then read a blogpost or something written by a black or gay person, and then I realise that hey, maybe that wasn't so okay after all. I try to revalue my perspective and inspect my privilege. Because I think it's important.
If I ever come off as racist or heterosexist, please tell me so. I'll tell you I didn't mean to, and try to avoid it in the future.
Because I admit to my privilege.
And because words have power.
There's been a controversy with a new member of the Bergen City Council who likened integration of immigrants with training dogs. There's been some people who said he just misspoke, and that as a new person in that position, he should be given some leeway.
I couldn't disagree more. I think that this is the sort of thing that we should have zero tolerance for. I don't think this guy meant to come off a racist fuckwit, but he did. If he isn't booted out of office, it sets an unfortunate precedent for this sort of language, and it will only serve to make immigrants feel less welcome.
The thing is, no-one likes to hear the word 'racist' in conjecture with themselves. I don't think I'm racist. I don't think I've expressed any racist sentiments. However, and here's the clue: I can't be sure, because I'm a white Norwegian living in Norway. I don't know what it's like to be an ethnic minority. I might have said something insulting and [borderline] racist without being aware that it could even be perceived that way.
There's been some controversy about the word neger [negro]. It wasn't politically correct anymore, and some people weren't happy that they would have to stop using it. However, I didn't hear a single black person say it was okay to use that word. And they're the ones who should decide.
IT'S THE PEOPLE IN THE MINORITY GROUP WHO DECIDE IF A TERM IS INSULTING OR NOT.
In fact, if I find a term insulting, don't tell me that I'm being overly sensitive. If I say that I don't like being called kjerring [bitch/hag], don't call me that.
I'm white, and I'm straight. This means that I automatically see things from a Caucasian and hetero-normative perspective. I find that I accept some things, and then read a blogpost or something written by a black or gay person, and then I realise that hey, maybe that wasn't so okay after all. I try to revalue my perspective and inspect my privilege. Because I think it's important.
If I ever come off as racist or heterosexist, please tell me so. I'll tell you I didn't mean to, and try to avoid it in the future.
Because I admit to my privilege.
And because words have power.
