Since I transitioned I’ve been thinking a lot about how little I knew about trans people until I realized I was one and took seriously educating myself.
It makes me feel ashamed because of how little I understand so many other oppressed groups, and how little true empathy I have. Even if on the surface I have respect for people and consider myself an “ally” to various groups, I feel I should do more than just signal respect and support. Maybe it’s an unrealistically high bar, but my conscience certainly thinks I need to do more to empathize with and better understand other groups.
dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
especially when they’re also privileged and unaware of what it’s like to be a minority - I don’t really know how to cross that divide, though.
hendrik@palaver.p3x.de 4 weeks ago
Empathy and respect for other people helps...
dandelion@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 weeks ago
Since I transitioned I’ve been thinking a lot about how little I knew about trans people until I realized I was one and took seriously educating myself.
It makes me feel ashamed because of how little I understand so many other oppressed groups, and how little true empathy I have. Even if on the surface I have respect for people and consider myself an “ally” to various groups, I feel I should do more than just signal respect and support. Maybe it’s an unrealistically high bar, but my conscience certainly thinks I need to do more to empathize with and better understand other groups.