actually i don't take it as a given that whether an aspect of your identity is a choice or not makes much difference. see discussion here, for instance, specifically the video i linked about "choosing to be queer." or to take myself for a more direct example, i could perfectly easily hide and ignore any attraction i've had for women -- the fact that i choose to make that an outward feature of my identity, even while dating men, is certainly a choice, and i don't see why that makes it any more valid of a target for oppression. i get that the "we're born this way! it's not a choice!" rhetoric has been successful in swaying some confused people or helping them understand that gay people aren't just gay to offend christians, but if those same slogans invalidate actual choices that aren't harming anyone, then i'm not so sure i want to embrace it.
you're absolutely right that the ability to switch back to comfort at any time fails to get something important across. that was what i meant by the "oppression tourism" comment, which was basically attempting to disclaim this as a "just try this and then you'll know how it really feeeeels" and call more attention to some artificial similarities that could aid understanding of terms for someone with otherwise *no* points of reference.
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Date: 2013-05-27 10:45 pm (UTC)From:you're absolutely right that the ability to switch back to comfort at any time fails to get something important across. that was what i meant by the "oppression tourism" comment, which was basically attempting to disclaim this as a "just try this and then you'll know how it really feeeeels" and call more attention to some artificial similarities that could aid understanding of terms for someone with otherwise *no* points of reference.