One thing I have seen weaponized against those who are marginalized and have experienced harm at those in positions of ‘leadership’ is the anger expressed. So very easy for #physicians, #researchers, #therapists, #counselors to point to the anger & exclaim ‘see how unbalanced 1/
this person is?’, ‘see how ill they are?’. When people are in positions where they have been harmed, where they have watched loved ones be harmed & it continues re of their voices, of their pleas for help, when those that are ‘suppose’ to help ignore the harms & gaslight 2/
#anger, to me, is a normal response. Yet many professionals use this instead to illustrate how ‘unstable’ a person or community is. NEVER do I condone threats or physical harm to anyone yet I have seen the #gaslighting of a group of or individual that has been viscerally 3
harmed continue to be marginalized & harm when screaming for help. The scenario I always use is of an individual yelling for help in the middle of turbulent water on a life raft. Their pleas for help are met by harpoons being thrown at the life boat, no true help being given 4/
IF you are in any position of authority, IF you are involved in any position involving a group of people, YOU must be opened to feedback, you must be willing to self reflect & look at how system issues impact people. IF you cannot do this, you have no business in those 5/
positions. We are ALL humans, mistakes will be made BUT those who dismiss voices, who are unwilling to reflect & examine systematic harms need to remove themselves from their work. I KNOW there are many in these positions that do have the ability to self reflect, to examine 6
& acknowledge system harms and DO raise their #voices & for that I am thankful. The utilization of this strategy to dismiss inds or groups is common I believe. I have seen it play out on Twitter. Again, I do NOT believe in #threats or harm of anyone but this needs to stop 🛑 7/
The colleagues of those who do this must speak out about the harms it causes and the ethical issues this cause. I’ve been in field for years, I’ve made mistakes, but never will I dismiss peoples concerns, their #voices. I will continue to try to be cognizant of systematic 8/
issues that have potential to cause harm or is causing harm. I have always raised my voice regardless of the personal risks to myself. Realize, harm can originate from ‘help’ 9/
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