Identity Politics

In the last issue, I wrote an article in response to Brian Law's article in
the previous NVT. In this issue, Brian has a rebuttal to my article. So as to
not engage in a public argument, I refer readers to my original article
rather than reply to Brian's response. However, I do want to respond to
Brian's call for a gathering of men before the next ANNual meeting.

I did not suggest, as Brian implies, that the ANN men get together, either
before the ANNual meeting or any other time, for the purpose of "helping each
other figure it out." I am afraid of all gatherings of dominant groups to
figure things out, whether they be whites on racism, upper class on classism
or males regarding sexism and patriarchy - unless they have a clear political
purpose to end their own and society"s racism, classism or patriarchy and
sexism. 

I believe that individuals and organizations, even those who are progressive
and nonviolent, tend to replicate the same power dynamics and oppressions
related to class, race and gender that exist in the dominant society. To
progress along the path of positive social change, we need to address these
"identity politics" issues within our selves and our organizations.

Regarding racism, for example, I would favor white activists gathering to
commit themselves to anti-racism by identifying how they are still carrying
out racism as individuals and as an organization, stop doing it, actively be
involved in projects and campaigns to end racism in society, and learn how to
be effective allies to people of color, which would include extensive
listening to them.

I would not, on the other hand, support whites getting together to sort
themselves out by: (1) Focusing primarily on how they, as whites, are victims
of racism. (2) Identifying how they along with everyone else are victims of
"the system." (Though this might be appropriate for a different gathering.)
(3) Focusing primarily on their own pain and hurts around race and the system
(though this might be included). (4) Sharing how they and their organization
do not carry out residual racist attitudes, beliefs and actions, but believe
that it is done by racists "out there" and by the racist system that, of
course, we all oppose, (5) Advocating that we stop using the words racist or
racism among ourselves, because it is "one way" and only applies to one group
and we feel blamed and bad when it is used to apply to us and our
organization. 

For similar reasons, I fear men getting together to sort themselves out
regarding the gender issues of patriarchy and sexism. Whenever members of a
dominant group gather to sort themselves out, without first having a clear
anti-oppression political agenda, they inevitably seem to end up denying,
minimizing and avoiding their own oppressive attitudes and behaviors, while
blaming others, often those most active in the oppressed group, and focus on
their own hurts and victimization. Anytime members of dominant groups define
themselves primarily as victims, rather than members of the oppressive group,
they end up preserving their attitudes, beliefs, behaviors and privileges
they have as a result of their dominant position (Their "internalized
dominator"). Despite the best of intentions, they enjoin the backlash, though
often unintentionally.

On the other hand, I wholeheartedly advocate gatherings of men (or any other
dominant group) that have a clear political agenda of ending sexism and
patriarchy. This would include identifying and ending the oppression of women
that is carried out by us men ourselves, our organizations, other men, and by
society's institutions and larger systems. Moreover, this needs to be done
without shame or blame as a process of liberation and celebration at men
taking responsibility for ourselves and the ending of all oppression of women
and others by patriarchy and sexism. 

In addition, the process of men's liberation also needs to include specific
analyses, methods and training for men to learn: (1) to get out of our own,
often unconscious, traditional male role of superior authority, (2) to get
out of our sense of victimization that we often feel when women begin to
assert themselves as equals, and (3) how to adopt an alternative way of
being. We men need help in learning specific ways we can act with equality
and emotional intimacy in our personal and political relationships throughout
each day. Without training in the skills for being powerful, equal and
emotionally intimate human beings, I fear that we men will remain stuck
alternating between the roles of being superior authority and victim. I think
that these would be appropriate to add to the ever growing list of skills of
nonviolence training. 
Bill Moyer
721 Shrader St, San Francisco,
CA 94117, USA
Tel/Fax: (415) 387 3361
Email: bmoyer@igc.apc.org