Posted on Apr 10, 2019
Ilhan Omar, AOC, and the silencing of women of color in Congress
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This isn’t something new to women of color: Studies have shown that women of color in the workplace are routinely marginalized, stereotyped, excluded, and silenced — a trend that’s only exacerbated in Congress’s overwhelmingly white and male halls.
That’s why the attacks feel all too familiar to many women of color; they’re part of a long, established pattern of attempts to silence those who step out of the roles society has ascribed to them.
The stances Omar, Tlaib, and Ocasio-Cortez have taken are certainly worth debating on ideological grounds. And were they white men making the same comments, perhaps they would be. But that’s not always what’s happening.
Instead, these three outspoken women have become the public faces of the shift toward a more diverse Congress and have become a locus for the same patterns of biased behavior that researchers and experts have found women of color in leadership often encounter.
As a result, they have been met with aggressive and extensive calls to shut up and go away.
That’s why the attacks feel all too familiar to many women of color; they’re part of a long, established pattern of attempts to silence those who step out of the roles society has ascribed to them.
The stances Omar, Tlaib, and Ocasio-Cortez have taken are certainly worth debating on ideological grounds. And were they white men making the same comments, perhaps they would be. But that’s not always what’s happening.
Instead, these three outspoken women have become the public faces of the shift toward a more diverse Congress and have become a locus for the same patterns of biased behavior that researchers and experts have found women of color in leadership often encounter.
As a result, they have been met with aggressive and extensive calls to shut up and go away.
Ilhan Omar, AOC, and the silencing of women of color in Congress
Posted from vox.com
Democrats
Government
Congress
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 11
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LOL.
Silenced? These three don't know the meaning of the word.
They are mocked because they have shitty ideas, and are very outspoken about it.
Their social media exploits are made to be publicity generators, and that has the advantage of raising their profile and the disadvantage of inviting scrutiny.
President Trump discovered the same thing, and these three are doing it under the progressive banner.
The latest AOC comment about migrants from Central America fleeing their home countries due to climate change is just about the dumbest thing I've heard a politician say. And that is saying something these days.
Silenced? These three don't know the meaning of the word.
They are mocked because they have shitty ideas, and are very outspoken about it.
Their social media exploits are made to be publicity generators, and that has the advantage of raising their profile and the disadvantage of inviting scrutiny.
President Trump discovered the same thing, and these three are doing it under the progressive banner.
The latest AOC comment about migrants from Central America fleeing their home countries due to climate change is just about the dumbest thing I've heard a politician say. And that is saying something these days.
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PO3 Paul Lowrey
What's scary is that a lot of people actually believe their scary ideas. The Democratic Party is now Socialist, Godless, corrupt and self serving and their message reminds of Rat poison, 60% sweet corn and 40% ARSENIC. That scares the Hell out of me. I've lived my life but my children and especially my grandchildren sure haven't. I hope people wake up.
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Mr. Nagel,
I don't wish to be disrespectful; I always appreciate the fact you're willing to share another point of view based on your experience and passion. Here's what I think-I'm a straight, white, Christian male, and a member of the "middle class"; If I walked into the office this morning and stated that I believed we should increase all employee salaries by 50%, provide health coverage without deductions, replace our entire infrastructure with 100% renewable energy sources, and promote new hires to senior management sans training or experience... I'd be very quickly "silenced".
There are definite, pragmatic reasons many oppose what these young ladies are proposing...these measures would largely destroy our current economic system, leave millions facing bankruptcy, possibly even poverty, and threaten every social and public institution from the workplace, to the place of worship, and even the home. I sincerely doubt anyone needs, let alone desires to consider their gender or ethnic background as part of the equation.
Have minorities and women been sidelined in the past? Certainly. We fought a civil war that cost over half a million lives, and struggled through decades of subsequent unrest and reform to provide universal citizenship and suffrage. The very fact that less than twenty years after 9/11, a Muslim woman is in Congress says a great deal about the diversity of our voting population and the views that guide them.
I can't/won't speak for you personally-my intuitions are that you genuinely care about fairness, justice, and freedom. However, I equally believe that a large number of Americans have lost their way due to the combined influences of envy and hate. Someone experiences failure, rejection, bias, or ridicule in one instance, and suddenly projects their anger on everyone and anything that even remotely resembles it. Wolves often wear sheep's clothing, but it would be a mistake to starve all one's sheep just to eliminate the pack. There are others, I've no doubt, who are very much wolves of a different kind-seeking power to enslave the masses, consolidate wealth into a cabal of untouchable government elites, and censure, control, and subjugate any and all who oppose them.
These are the true enemies of freedom and justice my friend, and we can't allow our good natures, open hearts, and educated minds to be swayed into giving them the tools they need to succeed in their aims.
I don't wish to be disrespectful; I always appreciate the fact you're willing to share another point of view based on your experience and passion. Here's what I think-I'm a straight, white, Christian male, and a member of the "middle class"; If I walked into the office this morning and stated that I believed we should increase all employee salaries by 50%, provide health coverage without deductions, replace our entire infrastructure with 100% renewable energy sources, and promote new hires to senior management sans training or experience... I'd be very quickly "silenced".
There are definite, pragmatic reasons many oppose what these young ladies are proposing...these measures would largely destroy our current economic system, leave millions facing bankruptcy, possibly even poverty, and threaten every social and public institution from the workplace, to the place of worship, and even the home. I sincerely doubt anyone needs, let alone desires to consider their gender or ethnic background as part of the equation.
Have minorities and women been sidelined in the past? Certainly. We fought a civil war that cost over half a million lives, and struggled through decades of subsequent unrest and reform to provide universal citizenship and suffrage. The very fact that less than twenty years after 9/11, a Muslim woman is in Congress says a great deal about the diversity of our voting population and the views that guide them.
I can't/won't speak for you personally-my intuitions are that you genuinely care about fairness, justice, and freedom. However, I equally believe that a large number of Americans have lost their way due to the combined influences of envy and hate. Someone experiences failure, rejection, bias, or ridicule in one instance, and suddenly projects their anger on everyone and anything that even remotely resembles it. Wolves often wear sheep's clothing, but it would be a mistake to starve all one's sheep just to eliminate the pack. There are others, I've no doubt, who are very much wolves of a different kind-seeking power to enslave the masses, consolidate wealth into a cabal of untouchable government elites, and censure, control, and subjugate any and all who oppose them.
These are the true enemies of freedom and justice my friend, and we can't allow our good natures, open hearts, and educated minds to be swayed into giving them the tools they need to succeed in their aims.
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