subtle oppression

[jen kristel]

Hi Adam, and Anath;
Thank you Anath for pointing out something so very important.
I understand this aspect of oppression and it is interesting because of the subtlety involved, it is hard to pinpoint whether it is just me or whether it is a group dynamic. Do I dare say anything?is often a question I ask myself. Will I be taken seriously? As a person who lives with a disability, ( I have Cerebral Palsy)I find that I sense it as a person with a disability in the world of various abilities, that in fact people with disabilities are often ignored and/or discounted .   In some ways, people with disabilities are ignored, because to say anything about their disability can be misconstrued as being presumptuous and isolating.There is a subtle aspect that comes with inclusion that promotes a sense of erasure. ( Iam also aware of many cultures experiencing a  sense of erasure I wonder about whether there is a connection)To point out a persons disability can be construed as pitying (something that most people with disability really dislike-myself included)  But to ignore it is also just as bad and finding the midway point is often a balance. Because my disability is relatively invisible to the outside world, I have lived my life trying to act "normal" (if anyone can tell me what that is I would be very happy!)
 Im afraid that I am not very theoretical about this - I am aware that as I have gotten older I am now owning my disability more which often puts me in a very vulnerable place. But being honest about this, and allowing for my history which includes a lot of experiences most able bodied people don't  have, allows for me to also own it. A lot of people don't believe that I am as disabled as I say.  But because I can now speak clearly, walk relatively normally and have a productive life. What people do not see is how incredibly hard it is to write a clear sentence ( my husband acts as a resident ghost writer!) and process the world around me.

I enjoy this listserv. I am not a CP either, although I have trained with many wonderful people.  I am glad that it is ok for those of us who are in the field, but not "official" to be included. I have trouble sometimes with the high level of intellectual banter but often find gems that I save to work with later on.
Thank you!

Jen Kristel, M.A.,CE, CPT
Expressive Arts Therapist
Playback Theatre Director/teacher

"Be the change that you want to see in the world" Mahatma Gandhi



From: ablatner at verizon.net
To: list at grouptalkweb.org
Subject: subtle oppression
Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:04:14 -0500
CC: iagp-psychodrama at yahoogroups.com










Dear Colleagues, I've been thinking of the category 
of sublte oppression, mainly referring to the kinds of dynamics that make you 
shut down in group settings. (These may not be just group therapy settings; they 
can also be classes, workshops, seminars, conferences, or other contexts in 
which one norm is that the group is on the surface inviting participation and 
openness, but at the same time certain dynamics can operate so that it feels too 
bold, out-of-it, insensitive, presumptuous, or otherwise potentially isolating 
and/or drawing rejection should you dare to speak up about certain topics. 

 
     This email is an 
invitation to share anecdotes. 
 
     I've come up with a few 
categories that tend to make me want to not assert myself, though on occasion I 
force myself to go against my tendency or temptation and speak up. (I've 
sometimes been supported in doing so, and sometimes condemned.): 
          1. I can't 
understand what the other person is saying because s/he is speaking too fast, 
too softly, with too much of an accent or dialect, using too big or unfamiliar 
terms or vocabulary, and so forth. In trying to bring up the problem of 
understand-ability, I've at times been met with blame.
           2. Someone 
takes offense to what I say, which then makes it difficult in that escalated 
emotional context to seek clarification and make amends. Explanations are often 
perceived as trying to avoid responsibility when in fact they are seeking to 
find a way to work out the miscommunication.
           3. Feeling 
one has a minority opinion when the group is perceived to have a certain bias. 
(Example: In one group many years ago a protagonist was complaining about a 
vague memory of possible sexual abuse---this was when this complaint was seen as 
always to be believed. I asked, "Well, there seems to be some question whether 
this event actually happened." Caught a lot of flack.)
           4. 
...and so forth. Does this evoke any associations?
 
     My goal is to identify the 
underlying patterns that stifle discourse and think of ways we can better keep 
people feeling safe enough to express themselves. Any further examples or ideas 
will be appreciated. Warmly, Adam Blatner
Adam Blatner, M.D.
   website: www.blatner.com/adam/   


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