I ran into a former employer the other day. We exchanged a hug and the typical greetings. Then he spotted a new tattoo I have just below my collarbone. He grabbed the collar of my shirt and moved it aside to inform me of his opinion on the black airplane silhouette.
He crossed a line. Because I’m a young female, he had no respect for my personal space, and all I could do was laugh it off, realizing the implications of asserting myself to a person who controls the result of references to future employers.
When I finally felt comfortable reacting to the situation, my opinion was brushed aside. I shared an article with the headline “Striking Photos Capture Just How Intrusive Everyday Sexism Feels” with no explanation. The article features “Boundaries,” a photo project by Allaire Bartel, which shows women in ordinary situations, such as in the office or at a bar. Hands of men are shown in a number of intrusive ways on the women’s bodies. Sharing this story helped me voice what happened to me earlier that day without having to post all the details.
The shared post received a comment. “There are children being slaughtered in the Middle East.”
As a journalism and global cultural studies double major, I can assure you I read and learn about as many injustices occurring around the globe as I can. I’m also pretty well versed in the systems that created these problems and allow them to continue. When I shared the article, I was not saying that a human rights crisis in the Middle East did not exist or that sexism perpetuated by the patriarchy in the United States was more important.
There are countless situations that need to be solved around the world. Silencing those that might seem less dire won’t solve them. Imagine a friend asking for advice, but when his or her situation isn’t as intense as one you encountered that day, you just tell them the problem is irrelevant. The friendship probably wouldn’t last. Whether I think my friends’ problems are a bit ridiculous or not, they appreciate sitting down and having a conversation about it.
In order to start chipping away at inequalities and human rights violations around the world, dialogue must stay open. Until all problems are deemed important by society, solutions will be hard to come by. Solidarity is simple. Supporting others and their causes takes the next step toward being looked at seriously. A simple “I understand” is enough.
If you don’t understand, take some time to learn more about the situation and ask questions. Don’t dismiss the situation because it doesn’t affect you directly. Devoting the time to understand a group or individual’s mission will encourage them to do the same. It’s easy to say something doesn’t matter. Use the resources this generation of technology allows and learn more about what others find important enough to act against.
Shutting people down won’t get you very far in your social life. The same goes for activism, too.
