when you wanna talk about the thing but you can’t talk about the thing because you know people will roll their eyes and be like ‘oh great she’s talking about the thing again’ so you just kind of sit there and pout because you want to talk about the thing so badly but you know if you try you’ll just get shit for it
Truth! Here’s some food for thought in all aspects that affect me on a daily basis. Please feel free to add your own experiences.
When a person of color opens up about racism they know that they’ll have to deal with someone who groans, rolls their eyes, and tells them to not blow things out of proportion. They know that killers will walk away because “we don’t know the full story” or “they have a mental illness” – which paints a horrible picture for those with mental illnesses – or "they acted in the heat of the moment.” Meanwhile, victims will be blamed because thugs/threats/suspicious/ran/didn’t listen. They know this while, at they same time, they live in a world that claims to want racial equality.
When a woman opens up about being assaulted they know that they’ll have to deal with someone who asks, “What were you wearing? Were you drunk? Did you lead them on?” “Why didn’t you defend yourself?” When she opens up about feeling uncomfortable she knows that someone will call her a bitch because “it was a compliment” or “you’re too sensitive.” While, at the same time, she lives in a world that claims to want women to feel safe at all times.
When someone who isn’t “the norm” when it comes to sexuality opens up about their rights, they know they’ll have to deal with someone who “doesn’t mind gay people, but they shouldn’t get married” or someone who “doesn’t mind transsexuals, but don’t go into our bathroom” or someone who “doesn’t believe that asexuality is real” or “bisexuals are confused” and so on… while, at the same time, they live in a world that claims to want LGBT rights.
When someone who isn’t the “ideal body” opens up about wanting to be seen beyond their weight, they know that they’ll have to deal with someone who calls them out of their name, who suddenly knows their health history, who assumes they aren’t happy or can’t be happy, who decides who they are because of the size of their body – fat or skinny. This is all while living in a world that claims that everyone can live their lives how they are most comfortable. This is all while living in a world that can’t decide what the “ideal body” is.
All of these people know these things, so a lot of times, they sit and want to speak up, but don’t, because there’s always someone who shoots them down.
So don’t be the one who shoots them down. Be the one who listens. Or, more importantly, when someone does shoot them down, be there to support them.
