tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1840044689402718651.post8541104356313333464..comments2023-10-02T00:48:41.996-07:00Comments on decolonizing solidarity: false empathyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1840044689402718651.post-59158665401716201112011-07-22T18:58:14.578-07:002011-07-22T18:58:14.578-07:00I was drawn to the “false empathy” heading because...I was drawn to the “false empathy” heading because it is something I encounter frequently in my work with people with disabilities (PWD) among family, community, and professionals. Able-bodied, able-brained people often look at PWD and say, “Oh, it would be horrible to be like that! I would kill myself!” Or they may see PWD with impressive (and sometimes even not so impressive) accomplishments and say, “How heroic!” Such reactions often do appropriate the narrative and impose roles on those with disabilities, further limiting them. There are many reasons for these false empathies, but among the prominent reasons people may have the inaccurate horror reaction because they aren’t familiar with the adaptations that PWD learn to make and the meanings they find in their lives. Also, and this is a particularly subtle one, they may not appreciate that certain brain disabilities produce a reduced self-awareness, particularly for one’s disabilities and limitations. This diminished self-awareness is not a psychological defense mechanism like political “false consciousness” but an organic diminished (self-) consciousness. It cushions the impact and the “horror” of some brain disabilities. The “horrors!” false empathy is routinely reflected in the ubiquitous usage of “She ‘suffers’ from X disease/disability.” (Do you ‘suffer’ from dental cavities? Only if not treated. ‘Suffers’ is a presumption about the experience that diminishes the humanity of the PWD.) <br /> The “heroic” reaction is the darling of the right. They may hold up such people as examples of what those with disabilities are supposed to do (so that we don’t have to be bothered with providing services and support). PWD are generally a politically oppressed class, but there are occasionally those who gain some small privilege from their status, and the right loves to single them out, as well, sometimes as welfare queens or other system users, sometimes a reverse discrimination or unreasonable disability accommodations. <br /> This brings me to the connections between false consciousness and false empathy. False empathy may arise, in part, from empathy with those with false consciousness. “Some of my best friends are . . .” Well, those ‘best friends’ may well be the “good Negros” who identify with the oppressor. It’s easy to push this line of reasoning too far, however, into a “pure doctrine” cult that only those with true consciousness with full awareness of their oppression can be trusted, and attempting empathy with anyone else will only result in false empathy, hence we can ignore everyone who doesn’t toe our particular political line, no matter which side of privilege they fall on.Tedd Juddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396815655028435271noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1840044689402718651.post-75786678539262636452011-07-18T23:27:15.427-07:002011-07-18T23:27:15.427-07:00Interesting ideas. But I think the analogy between...Interesting ideas. But I think the analogy between false consciousness and false empathy is somewhat off the mark, at least as described here. The false consciousness, similar to Stockholm syndrome, is where the person actually takes on a perspective contrary to their own interests. The examples given of supposedly "false" empathy are perhaps more accurately termed "shallow" empathy or "imprecise" empathy or "partial" empathy or something like that. And it seems to me that it may lead to well-intentioned actions that are misguided and off the mark but perhaps only inefficient, vaguely helpful, and probably somewhat annoying, but not necessarily counterproductive. The Settlement Houses may be a good example of thise. For something to be really "false" empathy you would then be inclined to look for the opposite to arrive at "true" empathy. <br /> As for simulation exercises, I think the goal is usually to raise awareness of an issue or problem to stimulate the participants to have open minds to listen and learn. I don't think they are usually thought of as the full lesson. Empathy isn't a body of knowledge to be taught--it's a stance, an attitude, a way of being and relating in the world, a skill.Tedd Juddhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18396815655028435271noreply@blogger.com