Thread by @HZiauddeen

'They are acting in good faith.'
'It was not my intention to hurt them'

This is the privilege of intentionality, where someone's intentions are given more moral weight than their actual harmful actions and the impact of those actions.
(More details in QT below)
(1/12)

https://twitter.com/HZiauddeen/status/1319022213664747525

This is one of the benefits of power i.e. those in power are granted this, those who are not, are not.
This operates across multiple levels.
E.g. a man who harasses a women expects to be given a pass because it was not his intention to hurt her.
(2/12)

This is operating at the level of the power imbalance in their interaction.
When the woman takes the matter to HR, they too take the view that it was not his intention to hurt her and any hurt caused was inadvertent.
This is operating at the level of the institution.
(3/12)

The is what happens with misogyny in patriarchal systems, racism in white systems, etc.

So they're always given 'the benefit of the doubt' but more importantly they're 'never actually in the wrong' & therefore don't have to face consequences, apologise or make amends.

(4/12)

This is a privilege because those who are lower in the power hierarchy are not afforded the same. It is relatively rare that things get to the point where their intentions are even asked about.
(5/12)

Instead, this is best seen in how their inadvertent blunders or ignorance of system norms are heavily penalised with furious wrath.

'What do you mean you didn't realise that was disrespectful?'
(6/12)

We see this operating in all our systems. However I wrote this thread with particular regards to some of our scientific advisors in COVID. We have been seeing the horrendous consequences of their decisions and actions over the last 18 months.
(7/12)

Yet, the 'acting in good faith' point is made repeatedly.
It doesn't matter that it was not their intention to harm. The consequence of their actions is continuing harm, and devastating harm.
If there ever is a COVID enquiry, this will no doubt come up again.
(8/12)

However I want to make a particular point here about the nature of power. It is not just the individual themselves who avails of the privilege of intentionality, others will do it for them, 'I'm sure he is acting in good faith'.
(9/12)

Because if you're a member of the dominant group, there will be a lot of people who will rush to defend you, even people from the non-dominant groups, even those from the group your actions affect.
(10/12)

Like the women who tell a female colleague that their male boss 'doesn't really mean it that way'.

Like the Asian man who tells his Asian female coworker that their boss doesn't mean to be dismissive or denigrating, 'it's just his style'.

Why does this happen?
(11/12)

Answer:
1. The complex intersectionalities of diff power hierarchies & relative power.
2. Conditioning.

We're going through a disaster in which we are being failed by many of our leaders. Whether they are acting in good faith or not, they are still failing us badly.
(12/12)