The statement, "Respect My Experience," may be understood several ways. Generally, there is a norm in society--a set of unspoken rules, behaviors, and opportunities-- to which everyone is expected to adhere. The only voices that are heard, the only perspectives that are shared, the only stories that are told, serve to reinforce and perpetuate this norm. Alternately, voices, perspectives, and stories that do not fall within the norm are often overlooked, discounted, and dismissed. The impact can be devastating for those who do not fit the mainstream in terms of race, class, sexual orientation, physical ability, gender, age, national origin, language, religion, and mental health, and whose day-to-day life experiences and reality fall outside of this norm. When taken to the extreme, it can lead these persons or groups to feel as if they do not exist and thus to question their own integrity and sanity. For example, some women are raped in society and yet little room is made to openly talk about the reality of this experience. Many are poor and can't make ends meet, and again, little room is made to talk about this situation. People experience racism and little room is made to discuss how it operates. People are blind and little room is made to understand the experience of blindness. For if we did, the norm would expand, and society would change; we would restructure society so that it works for everyone. This is ultimately what we will do.
This writing
by St. Anger © 2003, is available on her greeting card in addition
to the above design.
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