Thread by @KirstiMiller30

Violence towards people because of their race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity, sex or religion makes me wonder, How long it will be before one’s identity isn’t a risk factor for violence?

Racism, homophobia, transphobia etc is not just sticks & stones. The emotional pain created by experiences of racism, homophobia. Transphobia look very similar to the patterns of brain activity caused by physical pain.

In this sense, suggesting that we can choose whether racism, homophobia, transphobia etc affects us is like saying that people can decide whether a slap across the face is painful or not.

Beyond emotions and the brain, racism, homophobia & transphobia etc produces damage in other parts of the body such as the heart, immune system and metabolic system, extending even to our DNA.

Direct experiences of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia contribute to an array of health outcomes, including psychological distress, depression, smoking, alcohol and substance use, suicide risk, poor oral health, and the belief that oneself is unhealthy (self-rated health).

The costs of racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism etc are direct in terms of health and indirect in terms of detrimental social and economic impacts, with clear evidence racism, homophobia and transphobia etc can make us sick individually and as a society.

Not to mention it can (and does) escalate to violence and physical assault, even homicide, if it is not called out. Such intolerance and hatred has no place in a modern, progressive respectful democratic society.

Hatred & fear of others has led to all the Wars in history. The challenge is to have a balance between the beliefs of all people in a community that doesn’t give one group power over another, shields & not swords.

While it would be absurd to blame the victim of racism for the racist behavior, or the victim of homophobia for the homophobic behavior, women are often blamed for men’s sexist behavior perpetrated against them.

When men victimize women, society often asks, “What did she do to deserve it?”

“Why didn’t she just leave?”

or

“Why does she push his buttons?”

Men who batter are violent to women and children because they are oppressive to women & feel entitled to utter compliance by the women in their lives to their wants and needs.

Domestic violence won’t decrease in our communities until we see it as a form of oppression based in gender, instead of a private family matter where a couple needs to learn to communicate better.

Interventions designed to prevent the occurrence of racism, transphobia, sexism etc have far more potential to increase mental health in minority communities than interventions that work with individuals in response to experiencing racism, transphobia, sexism etc.