19/07/2024
I was talking with a colleague Chai-Yoel Korn recently about how Robin Diangelo's work on White Fragility can be transposed onto all intersections of privilege. I've had countless experiences, when inviting someone to be curious about assumptions they might be making, of being met with denial, tears, silence, defense. I know I've also responded in this way too when I've been invited to think more about areas outside my current understanding.
It takes courage to invite someone to examine their beliefs and assumptions. And it takes courage to apologise and look deeply at what might be a mistake, an assumption, an unwitting act of power. That it's unwitting doesn't make it harmless though so I feel it's important that we look at those moments with greater self-awareness.
As Brene Brown says, vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change. When we can get compassionately curious with ourselves and with each other we can move from a position of making assumptions into a place of actively bringing about equality. Bringing about equal rights for everyone - it invites us to question beliefs about who or what we feel or believe is more/less worthy of protection.
In their guest blog, Chai-Yoel explores some of their personal thoughts and experiences of "identity fragility" concerning several aspects of their identity. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us, Chai-Yoel!
https://bainesballcp.co.uk/can-i-really-rest-identity-fragility/
fragility
fragility
rights
Our world is in fight and flight, how we are responding could talk to our sense of identity fragility. Can I really rest?: Identity Fragility
