In the last issue of the Fieldston news, Evan Weinstein (V) submitted an article in response to the recent Day for Diversity and Inclusivity. Evan expressed that the day “was a continuation of a pattern”, a pattern of minority students in the Fieldston community “attacking” others. We would like to firmly state that the purpose of the day wasn’t to “attack” anyone and take this opportunity to address some of the statements made in the article.
Firstly there was discontent expressed with the Class Race exercise that began the day. Conceding the logistical problem of space in the lower gym, the article agrees the activity in itself was successful in highlighting the varying levels of privilege within Fieldston. The dissenting opinion contends that pointing out privilege “has become a way to dismiss opinions and limit public discourse.” However, we would argue that naming the privilege that exist in an institution encourages the members of that institution to hear the voices of the marginalized. It does not limit the veracity of the opinions of the privileged group, it is merely a step toward leveling the playing field in the hope that true discourse can occur. Understanding that privilege affects members of a community of equals differently, should cause a just community to make adjustments seeking equilibrium. Yet, the article implies that pointing out these inequities is somehow a tool used to make the privileged feel guilty or made to feel under attack. There is a fundamental disconnect between these two responses which is why we need to push forward with these conversations.
There was concern that the opening exercise was inappropriate because of the intrusiveness of the questions. “I am not in a position where I would have to step back for those questions, but if I were, I would have stayed put.” This portion of the exercise and the response demonstrates how the greater system of privilege works. “Have you taken medication for your mental health?” or “Have you ever had to lie about your sexuality?” While these questions are certainly personal and are things one may choose not to share, it’s a privilege in itself to have never even needed to think about the implications of the answers to those questions.When these “personal and intrusive question” point to integral parts of your identity, yet are deemed things you should feel uncomfortable sharing at best and things to hide at worse, it definitely sends a message. We should be questioning why these subjects are deemed taboo in a community that prides itself on ethical learning and social justice. There are a few who are who are privileged enough to have Fieldston fit like a glove and many others who at least never have to question if they are accepted as full fledged members of the community. Then there are those that have to check parts of themselves at the door because those parts make people uncomfortable. .
The goal of the activity was to begin to demonstrate the need to dismantle systems of privilege because they negatively affect everyone in the system. That is one of the principles upon which our school was founded, providing access to high quality education to those whom it was traditionally denied. Instead the article argues that the goal should have been to teach people to use their privilege responsibly. A way one might use privilege positively would be to listen to the people who do not enjoy the same level of privilege that you do and learn about their experiences. Instead of concentrating on the “expected” outcome of where we personally end up it might serve us best to note the position of others in the room and like true Adlerians, focus on how to bring everyone closer to the goal. I, Ariana, personally benefited from the activity because I was able not only to focus on the questions I stepped forward or back for, but realize how my past actions may have lead to others stepping forward or back. For example, one of the statements was “Step back if you have ever been falsely accused of lying about having a mental illness.” That didn’t apply to me, and that is a privilege of mine. But I quickly recalled a time when I falsely accused someone of lying about a mental illness to get extra time on test, a situation where i used my privilege irresponsibly.
There was also issue taken with the Overheard at Fieldston posters. The posters were called “a thinly covered double standard put on a brightly colored poster.” Yet there were examples or evidence of this double standard. Nevertheless, calling the project a double standard rationalizes the dismissal the experiences of the people who shared them.The article claims that “The reality is that people, many people, felt like they were being attacked by the posters they are forced to look at every single day” We would ask:how are people feeling attacked by posters that have nothing to do with them? If you do not and have not said or heard any of the things represented on the posters, then why should you feel personally attacked?
Another thing is that it is interesting to note is that we specifically chose to include microaggressions which handled all 8 of the social identifiers yet the majority of the complaints surrounding the project have talked solely about racial issues. That, in itself, is an issue within the Fieldston community. It suggests that the only people who are thought to have very little privilege in our community are the students of color. But that is for another discussion.
Unless you address the privilege that exist in the community the things that make us similar and different are almost exclusively centered on the experiences of the privileged. We cannot find common ground if everyone’s experiences are not valued and respected equally. So please, continue to listen to other’s experiences and please SHARE yours. Expressing discontent with how issues of race are talked about at Fieldston and then not actively be apart of the conversation gets us nowhere. Understand that it is a conversation where no one should feel silenced. I understand that people “feel guilty”, but despite your belief that feelings of guilt hinder progress, those feelings are actually an integral part of the process as long as it doesn’t stop there. Those that feel guilty should think about why that feeling occurs, where it comes from, and what you should do about it.
