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Over the last few years I’ve been more directly entering into grass root and radical spaces.
On the one hand, I am inspired by the way in which these spaces can bring a sense of altruism and caring. There is a vision for a better world, even if it is often buried under a lot of other things.
And yet, I also quite quickly have been put off entering left-wing political spaces. Far from being a bastion of progressiveness, I am often subjected to more judgement and hostility than in the rest of my everyday life.
My greatest frustration has been going into left wing spaces that are supposedly ‘safe’. I’ve learnt though that these are ‘safe’, but only if you are a heterosexual, white woman whose broad point of view will be to complain about the patriarchy and/or capitalism.
It’s fine for me to turn up as long as I do not question or – heaven forbid – disagree with certain points. It becomes impossible to have a real political discussion when you are talking to someone who has a sense of heightened moral superiority to you.
I am hardly an advocate for untethered capitalism and patriarchical systems. Yet I also do not stand for lazy, dogmatic points of view either. We need to rid ourselves of the idea that simplistic political belief systems only exist in far right politics. They reside within our spaces alive and well.
The sad thing is that I’m not even making antagonistic or dramatically different points. Instead, it’s things like highlighting that systemic shifts can be complicated and require nuance. Yet even doing this is where I’ve faced insane levels of hostility. It is like walking into a cult and daring to ask why people are blindly following the ancient text written a millenia ago.
Most disappointingly, these spaces are where I often experience the most racism. I am a weird looking outsider without white skin and blond hair. Worse still, I come along with *radical* views. It is thus acceptable to use manipulative or abusive behaviour against me. All’s fair in love and war, right?
It is this left-wing hypocrisy that drives people away. People are tired of being told what to do, particularly when they see people not practicing what they preach for themselves.
It’s certainly put me off entering many political spaces. Because for all the bells and whistles, I see that I am only tolerated in such spaces as long as I blindly agree with what is being said. Inclusion is valued up until the point you might actually have a different opinion.
At best, critique may lead to deflection. For example, when I highlight issues such as racism in women led spaces, I often get repeated the line: ‘well can’t we come together and see that the real enemy is the cis-white males in power?’
It is hard to align with people who cannot see their own biases. Whilst there is some truth to not descend into mindless left-wing in-fighting, we also need to learn to take criticism. But we also need to be able to question such simplistic statements too. It’s quite the inconvenient fact when I point out that white males have actually been the ones that have often been far more supportive to me in my career, whereas I’ve experienced the most nasty behaviour from white women.
I have done far more work around deconstructing gender, racial and social constructs than probably anyone I actually know. I enter with all the work I have done on myself, only to be told off by a straight white woman who does not understand that she can also be racist. At this point, it’s not actually worth being in the conversation.
Currently, left-wing spaces often resemble a high school contest of being the person who can be the most oppressed being stating the most anti-establishment lines. If you sway from the party line, it is because you are not virtuous enough. You need to go off and check your privilege.
If we are to see a return to genuine left-wing progressiveness, we need to learn to practice what we preach. We are in dire need of more hopeful, loving politics, laced with a humility and understanding that people are allowed different points of view.
If the left is to truly capture people’s minds, it must first capture people’s hearts. People are exhausted, and don’t need to be bombarded with an ever growing list of why they are doing things wrong.
Instead, it’s about demonstrating that a happier, more open-minded way of living is achievable.
Freedom is available. Peace is attainable. Happiness is possible.