subtle oppression717b

[Adam Blatner]

Dear Laure, welcom. Are you training in psychodrama in the Hudson Valley of New York?
        Some comments and responses:
  I am one who is prone to being "around" a group before I jump in. I like to get a feel 
for what the "norms" are and how a group functions before I just jump in (that is my 
general style).
            AB: This is common. But what about just asking questions? I always feel wary 
about the conclusions folks come to based on their impressions. What if you're even partly 
mistaken?  How do I encourage your asking openly? This isn't aimed at you, particularly, 
but as I think about it, it is so common in human affairs, and I think it might even be a 
subtle kind of oppression: How do I deal with your hypotheses about me if I don't hear 
what they are and can correct them.
        Here's a wild example: After 32 years of very happy marriage, during which time my 
wife Allee and I discuss most things rather thoroughly, enjoying that kind of thing, yet 
something new came up. I was connecting with my priorities now that I'm getting older and 
Allee found that she needed to re-work her schema or inner map of who she thought I was 
and what my life was about. I deeply appreciated her willingness to listen respectfully 
and her willingness to let go of ego attachements to her previous formulation. I hope I 
can do likewise for her as we boost each other up the ladder of maturation and insight.

     LG:  Subtle oppression is an interesting question - or subject for me. I believe that 
there are a multitude of avenues that humans experience oppression;  from the overt to the 
subtle. Being a social worker are my field of choice -  I work hard to address oppressive 
behaviors in all areas of my life - and in my professional work. I find that to be a large 
scale challenge - and frequently when I speak up on behalf of the disenfranchised and 
oppressed I am generally met with resistance/dismissive attitudes of the people that I 
encounter where I work.
        AB: this is fascinating: What kind of place do you work at? I am truly interested 
in diagnosing this system and its interactions. What are the major jobs of the others at 
your workplace?
       So, role reversing with the others who you think take a dismissive attitude towards 
your speaking up... what's with that?   I can begin to imagine several possible stances, 
all of which may be wrong. What a great sociodrama.
         1. They are wicked people.
         2. They are nice people, but entrenched in complacency and don't want to think of 
larger system problems.
         3. What you present is overwhelming. Such as:
                 The world is very unfair to some people.
                        Doubling response. Sure, right. You're right. What are we supposed 
to do about that?
          4. What are you, some kind of leftist communist pinko yellow-dog bleeding heart 
tax-and-spend liberal?
               Help me out here, just warming up to why anyone would object to your 
seemingly noble activity of speaking up on behalf of the oppressed...

      LG  I find it difficult to have open conversations with others in my work place as 
some peers are not as interested in the same level of self awareness as I believe that I 
am with myself. I have come to believe that I need to know my own bias and prejudices if I 
am to help others in any role I take with them. It is a daily challenge.
          AB: Thank you about recognizing your own needs to develop further 
insight---you're right, of course.
   So much in the way of consultation to professionals deals (or in the semi-olden days 
did) with raising consciousness about countertransference, the therapists' own blind 
spots.

     LG:  The subtle oppressive behaviors fall along gender lines, socioeconomic lines and 
life skill lines. Some of this can also be spoken of in the language of counter 
transference. Or as I am currently learning about sociometrically -
 "ghosts"(those non-present people I see in the present people I encounter).
           AB: yes. I'm getting lost without a few examples here. Are you talking about 
yourself or others? Whose countertransferences?  or are they transferences.

   LG  The language of the ghosts has opened avenues for awareness and  understanding for 
myself in how I react/respond to people in my life. I am most curious to continue to learn 
more about Sociometry and group dynamics through that language. (it's like I have finally 
found a construct and language to articulate what I have been internally experiencing for 
a long time).
         AB: That would be great, hearing about how you find any concepts in sociometry to 
specifically address these issues. (Careful not to use generalities or abstractions here, 
assuming we can fill in the gaps. We need the specific links thought out or explicated.)

 LG  In this group - I have been reading posts, exploring attachments and papers other 
members have  referenced - so I can learn more and understand the discussions here. I want 
to learn more - and faster!! :-) though I suspect that training in this method is a life 
long journey and self exploration. I will at some point get my "psychodrama" legs as it 
were ..... and have many questions to ask and explore with you all. To this point I have 
enjoyed the discussions and topics raised - and learning ...  Laure
          AB: Yes, as mentioned, it is indeed lifelong, and fun for those who enjoy 
discovering ways in which perhaps they can revise their own inner maps (schemata). Not fun 
for those any challenge to discovering their inner maps may be in need of revision is 
experienced as a threat. Welcome to the process. We welcome your questions as they emerge 
into explicit awareness.    warmy, adam