This holds up no matter what the trauma. This is a bit personal, but I was sexually assaulted by a family member when I was 3. I didn't realize how much it affected the way I saw the world until I was in my 20's and went to therapy. The therapist helped me to change the way I operated around men. She allowed me to free myself from approaching every single male on the earth in the exact same way (a destructive way that was eating away at my self-esteem). I was able to see men as individuals, rather than as part of some collective I had invented to protect myself. And, it changed my life. It probably saved my life.
Yes. And people who have been truly traumatized find it very difficult to listen to those who say they are traumatized by unpleasant -- but normal -- life events. Maybe these people need to spend a day helping out in the burn unit or volunteering with trafficking survivors.
1. Challenge claims of racism. Racism is horrible and as such should be seriously considered. Claims of racism may be actually false. Accepting any and all claims without scrutiny, without the expectation of evidence beyond one’s feelings perpetuates the perceived problem.
2. Challenge claims of inter generational trauma. If someone is feeling trauma from something that happened to someone else then the first person is just appropriating the second person’s trauma. And thank goodness for that. All people have ancestors who were brutally treated. All people likely have relatives who were enslaved.
To help people we should help them learn to challenge their perceptions and conclusions. It is very likely they are just wrong.
Definitely. It's created 1,000 mental tripwires everywhere triggering "trauma". Real trauma, I've seen, is often on the other end of unspeakably horrible events not comments on hair texture. We are literally training people to be weak of mind.
As a heterosexual white male - I’m feeling the trauma of racial preferences in the work place. Maybe a safe space would help…but I think growing thicker skin is the real solution. Hard work and a belief in Meritocracy will take me farther than wallowing in self pity over my supposed “trauma”. Time to get back to basics were merit matters and DEI hires flounder (Aka Claudine Gay).
I used to work providing front line social services. The way micro aggressions and related nonsense play out in that arena is a real eye opener. Agree with your essay completely!
So-called racial/generational/historical trauma and microaggression are fictional social constructs designed to perpetuate victimhood status and expand its reach. Trauma does indeed touch many more people than simply combat veterans, but its use in explaining every ill in society does nothing more than lay a foundation for reparations payments and other empty symbolic gestures. These categories are part of a larger trend of psychopathologizing and politicizing ordinary behavior in order to promote the social status of anyone with vague grievances.
Wow! You are the rebel warrior, aren't you, Dr. Gustilo! I just Googled you and found your lawsuit against a healthcare facility for racial discrimination - for not being a racist enough person of colour ;) You are Da Awesome! I can just imagine you got into all sorts of trouble being 'pro-human', refusing to be a victim, refusing to infantilize others with victimhood. I've actually been writing about FAIR this week in connection with some work they're doing fighting DEI initiatives in a New England school system. They sure are gadflies to the 'woke' - their critics paint FAIR as 'right-wing' and I'm like, "Dude, you don't know what 'right-wing' is!" You wrote an AWESOME article and I'm so glad to see another POC standing up for what's right. We all have to fight against the extremists of our own tribe, because they won't listen to outsiders. You said what 'antiracists' need to hear whether they like it or not (it's like spinach to toddlers; it's good for them!) 'Antiracism' and 'DEI' is clearly a lot more racist and I think the 'E' in DEI stands for Exclusion - of anyone who's no white, woke, or has an alternative opinion. Thanks for your article and keep up the good work, Dr. Gustilo! Power to the (human) people! :)
I agree! Focusing on others' (possibly) bad views and beliefs teaches people to limit themselves.
I grew up overweight in the 90s, which was no fun. Skinny equaled pretty. When I was a tween, I went through a horrible phase where I was convinced everybody was aware of and commenting on my chunkiness. In reality it was my own fears and insecurities. Exactly 2 classmates ever teased me about it.
I realized from this experience that I was essentially oppressing myself. I kept myself from trying new things and talking to people because I "knew" I would be judged and bullied. Most of it was in my head, and the rest was in fashion magazines.
Many people at my school were fat, too, but I got so defensive that I couldn't see all that. It was me against the world, and any glance at me or conversation I couldn't hear was "proof" of "their" attitudes towards me. Turns out, it was mainly just me.
It seems like there’s an underlying incentive for presenting oneself as a victim in some interactions. It’s breaking apart conversations or civil discourse, because a person’s merit gets thrown out the window or they don’t get the benefit of the doubt if the person doing the supposed “micro aggressions” or proposals are from a certain race. It’s annoying that a simple question like “where are you from” could spark offense. Like yes, if it really is from ill intent then shut that down. But making that statement like a taboo thing inhibits our ability to understand each other. Asking questions too. Because it’s either that or assumption, which we wouldn’t want either.
Its just patently obvious how the obsession with 'race' has turned, against of all groups, African-Americans. There is a seething irritation, a frustrated rancor, now facing African-Americans but not all the other diverse groups of non-white people, based on nothing to do with their 'race', history, attributes or character, but simply stemming from an infuriating exhaustion at this nonstop barrage of race guilt.
Right, making every third actor in ads, popups, billboards, TV shows, movies, and websites black - that was always going to solve the problem. Great thinking!
The only thing worse than the endless DEI/CRT fusillades is the complete lack of evidence used to support the whole corrupt system. We all know numerous Claudine Gays. We all know why people are hired, why some people can't be corrected at work regardless of the inanity of their statements, why some people are favored, why some are clearly in over their heads, and why so many, usually white people, are overlooked or insulted on a daily basis.
Thank you for such a great description of the problem.
Teaching people to assume and search for mal intent is no way to have a healthy multicultural society or any healthy society.
You are so right, but the people driving this crazy movement are making out like bandits....publicity, “honor”, funding of all kinds.
This holds up no matter what the trauma. This is a bit personal, but I was sexually assaulted by a family member when I was 3. I didn't realize how much it affected the way I saw the world until I was in my 20's and went to therapy. The therapist helped me to change the way I operated around men. She allowed me to free myself from approaching every single male on the earth in the exact same way (a destructive way that was eating away at my self-esteem). I was able to see men as individuals, rather than as part of some collective I had invented to protect myself. And, it changed my life. It probably saved my life.
Yes. And people who have been truly traumatized find it very difficult to listen to those who say they are traumatized by unpleasant -- but normal -- life events. Maybe these people need to spend a day helping out in the burn unit or volunteering with trafficking survivors.
1. Challenge claims of racism. Racism is horrible and as such should be seriously considered. Claims of racism may be actually false. Accepting any and all claims without scrutiny, without the expectation of evidence beyond one’s feelings perpetuates the perceived problem.
2. Challenge claims of inter generational trauma. If someone is feeling trauma from something that happened to someone else then the first person is just appropriating the second person’s trauma. And thank goodness for that. All people have ancestors who were brutally treated. All people likely have relatives who were enslaved.
To help people we should help them learn to challenge their perceptions and conclusions. It is very likely they are just wrong.
Definitely. It's created 1,000 mental tripwires everywhere triggering "trauma". Real trauma, I've seen, is often on the other end of unspeakably horrible events not comments on hair texture. We are literally training people to be weak of mind.
As a heterosexual white male - I’m feeling the trauma of racial preferences in the work place. Maybe a safe space would help…but I think growing thicker skin is the real solution. Hard work and a belief in Meritocracy will take me farther than wallowing in self pity over my supposed “trauma”. Time to get back to basics were merit matters and DEI hires flounder (Aka Claudine Gay).
I used to work providing front line social services. The way micro aggressions and related nonsense play out in that arena is a real eye opener. Agree with your essay completely!
So-called racial/generational/historical trauma and microaggression are fictional social constructs designed to perpetuate victimhood status and expand its reach. Trauma does indeed touch many more people than simply combat veterans, but its use in explaining every ill in society does nothing more than lay a foundation for reparations payments and other empty symbolic gestures. These categories are part of a larger trend of psychopathologizing and politicizing ordinary behavior in order to promote the social status of anyone with vague grievances.
Wow! You are the rebel warrior, aren't you, Dr. Gustilo! I just Googled you and found your lawsuit against a healthcare facility for racial discrimination - for not being a racist enough person of colour ;) You are Da Awesome! I can just imagine you got into all sorts of trouble being 'pro-human', refusing to be a victim, refusing to infantilize others with victimhood. I've actually been writing about FAIR this week in connection with some work they're doing fighting DEI initiatives in a New England school system. They sure are gadflies to the 'woke' - their critics paint FAIR as 'right-wing' and I'm like, "Dude, you don't know what 'right-wing' is!" You wrote an AWESOME article and I'm so glad to see another POC standing up for what's right. We all have to fight against the extremists of our own tribe, because they won't listen to outsiders. You said what 'antiracists' need to hear whether they like it or not (it's like spinach to toddlers; it's good for them!) 'Antiracism' and 'DEI' is clearly a lot more racist and I think the 'E' in DEI stands for Exclusion - of anyone who's no white, woke, or has an alternative opinion. Thanks for your article and keep up the good work, Dr. Gustilo! Power to the (human) people! :)
I agree! Focusing on others' (possibly) bad views and beliefs teaches people to limit themselves.
I grew up overweight in the 90s, which was no fun. Skinny equaled pretty. When I was a tween, I went through a horrible phase where I was convinced everybody was aware of and commenting on my chunkiness. In reality it was my own fears and insecurities. Exactly 2 classmates ever teased me about it.
I realized from this experience that I was essentially oppressing myself. I kept myself from trying new things and talking to people because I "knew" I would be judged and bullied. Most of it was in my head, and the rest was in fashion magazines.
Many people at my school were fat, too, but I got so defensive that I couldn't see all that. It was me against the world, and any glance at me or conversation I couldn't hear was "proof" of "their" attitudes towards me. Turns out, it was mainly just me.
Well said!
It seems like there’s an underlying incentive for presenting oneself as a victim in some interactions. It’s breaking apart conversations or civil discourse, because a person’s merit gets thrown out the window or they don’t get the benefit of the doubt if the person doing the supposed “micro aggressions” or proposals are from a certain race. It’s annoying that a simple question like “where are you from” could spark offense. Like yes, if it really is from ill intent then shut that down. But making that statement like a taboo thing inhibits our ability to understand each other. Asking questions too. Because it’s either that or assumption, which we wouldn’t want either.
Agree.
Its just patently obvious how the obsession with 'race' has turned, against of all groups, African-Americans. There is a seething irritation, a frustrated rancor, now facing African-Americans but not all the other diverse groups of non-white people, based on nothing to do with their 'race', history, attributes or character, but simply stemming from an infuriating exhaustion at this nonstop barrage of race guilt.
Right, making every third actor in ads, popups, billboards, TV shows, movies, and websites black - that was always going to solve the problem. Great thinking!
The only thing worse than the endless DEI/CRT fusillades is the complete lack of evidence used to support the whole corrupt system. We all know numerous Claudine Gays. We all know why people are hired, why some people can't be corrected at work regardless of the inanity of their statements, why some people are favored, why some are clearly in over their heads, and why so many, usually white people, are overlooked or insulted on a daily basis.
Everybody knows. People aren't stupid.