Women’s self-defense classes are one of the best examples of a gendered space providing support, protection, and healing which otherwise wouldn’t happen in a mixed-gender space. And what about trans, nonbinary, or LGBTQ+ spaces for learning self-defense?
I don’t have a lot of thoughts articulated about gender, so I can’t speak to the exact things said. What I can easily and clearly say is thank you for you, for being you, and for speaking your truths and articulating and illustrating the simple truths at your core about who you are as a person. It is true that gender is one of the fundamental identities we have as a human and is one of the first group split criteria.
They feel very much how I’ve experienced life and identity as a Deaf person in a works full of hearing people, and that is the first identity group split for me. I have stronger feelings about my journey towards being a proud Deaf person, who has worth and dignity and deserves to be here just as I am, than I do about gender, and that makes sense on some levels.
That being said, your words help, and things like this help me be seen, known, and understood. This is a goodness. We all need way stations. Schuyler definitely is one, and I admire his commitment to am attitude of openness and kindness. I could not and will not sustain that. It needs to exist, and I’m glad it does.
Lots of wordy yet scattered and unformed thoughts today.
Thanks so much for sharing, Rebecca! I really appreciate your kind feedback and I am so glad this resonated with you.
That's a great point that our identities split us into groups, and perceived gender is one of the most common ones.
I'd love to share some info in my publication about how to be more respectful towards Deaf people. If you were ever interested in a collaboration, please let me know. :)
I don't know if you've seen it, Schuyler Bailar has a fantastic interview with Chella Man, who is Deaf: https://youtu.be/84Lg4e1JFjo
Why not start one and see how it goes?
Easier said than done, but I'm thinking about it! Thanks for reading!
I don’t have a lot of thoughts articulated about gender, so I can’t speak to the exact things said. What I can easily and clearly say is thank you for you, for being you, and for speaking your truths and articulating and illustrating the simple truths at your core about who you are as a person. It is true that gender is one of the fundamental identities we have as a human and is one of the first group split criteria.
They feel very much how I’ve experienced life and identity as a Deaf person in a works full of hearing people, and that is the first identity group split for me. I have stronger feelings about my journey towards being a proud Deaf person, who has worth and dignity and deserves to be here just as I am, than I do about gender, and that makes sense on some levels.
That being said, your words help, and things like this help me be seen, known, and understood. This is a goodness. We all need way stations. Schuyler definitely is one, and I admire his commitment to am attitude of openness and kindness. I could not and will not sustain that. It needs to exist, and I’m glad it does.
Lots of wordy yet scattered and unformed thoughts today.
Thanks so much for sharing, Rebecca! I really appreciate your kind feedback and I am so glad this resonated with you.
That's a great point that our identities split us into groups, and perceived gender is one of the most common ones.
I'd love to share some info in my publication about how to be more respectful towards Deaf people. If you were ever interested in a collaboration, please let me know. :)
I don't know if you've seen it, Schuyler Bailar has a fantastic interview with Chella Man, who is Deaf: https://youtu.be/84Lg4e1JFjo
Thanks again for your insights!