(no subject)

[pantryslut]

Once upon a time, I speculated that the reason that, say, anti-fur campaigns were more universally accepted than anti-sweatshop campaigns was partly because of this: protecting animals does not require one to face one's own class privilege. They are conveniently mute and automatically "other."

This morning I had the uncharitable thought that the reason certain flavors of environmental activism are so popular and primary among a certain set of people is the same. The environment doesn't talk back. Social justice is so much harder, in part because the people you're helping might want a say in what you offer them. They might ask to share power. They might ask you to confront your assumptions. And so on.

This is sketchy as usual, but I wanted to get it down.

Comments

[pantryslut.livejournal.com]

Same with social justice -- there are just so MANY social-justice issues, and people are spread thin.

But this same statement could quite easily be made for environmental issues.

[serenejournal.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I'm not sure it feels that way, perceptually. I'm still mulling this over.