March Newsletter
Invisibility— as children we think of it as a super-power that can be used to hide from enemies or right the wrongs of others whilst maintaining anonymity. However, in reality, invisibility looks much different to those who have been marginalized by society.
Civilians in a war-torn nation become invisible when political power grabs are splashed across our news screens. Children in foster care are invisible in a welfare system that refuses to center them. The labor of Black, Brown, and Indigenous people is invisible when payment and acknowledgment shifts to those with white privilege and power. Queer creativity is invisible when corporate takeovers of PRIDE marches are what is celebrated instead of each, unique LGBTQIA+ identity.
When normal means cisgender, white and able-bodied, those who don’t meet these “standards” are forced into invisibility, and in the real world that is not a super-power anybody dreams of having.
This year, the theme for International Women’s Day is #BreakTheBias. Everyone deserves equal access to resources and opportunities regardless of their culture and gender. We all know too well that economic participation and decision-making are two areas of society where women, especially Black and Indigenous women of color, operate with an imposed invisibility. Join us in recognizing the existence, the labor, the love, and the lives of ALL WOMEN!
Here at the Center for Nonviolence, we believe that societal change starts with the individual. So ask yourself:
Who are the women in my life? And how do I take their gifts and contributions for granted?
Do I know women who are Black, Brown, LGTBQ+ Identifying, Indigenous, and/or Trans? If not, why don't I? and how can I better know the experiences of all women?
How do my personal feelings, beliefs, values, actions, and behaviors support or otherwise harm the women I know and those I don't know?
What language have I normalized that actually objectifies women?
Where has the work of women I know been expected? Under-celebrated? Made invisible?
Individually, we're all responsible for our own thoughts and actions - all day, every day. It is each of our work to question and break the biases we are conditioned to hold on to. We can break the bias in our personal lives. We can break the bias in our workplaces and communities. And together, we can make a world where ALL women are seen, heard, and loved.