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On Safe Spaces

Started by Shana A, April 27, 2008, 01:24:49 PM

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Shana A

April 27, 2008, 01:24:49 PM
On Safe Spaces
April 26, 2008
Tera

http://sweetperdition.wordpress.com/2008/04/26/on-safe-spaces/

"My freedom ends where your safety begins."
           –how a teacher explained freedom
           of speech in my 7th grade Government class

I'm a big believer in safe spaces. Having to navigate somewhere that isn't my house takes a lot of effort; I only noticed just how much effort once I left school and stopped having to spend 6 hours a day in a strange-to-me place. But I've always felt most comfortable in my house–my bedroom, especially. Maybe that's why I like stories about people trying to protect their homes from outsiders.

Lately I've been thinking a lot about what exactly constitutes a safe space–what safety even is. Because I've seen that the safe space can turn into an oppression-sword real fast. Like when a cissexual feminist isn't "comfortable" around trans* women because they don't fit her theories:
"Be yourself; everyone else is already taken." Oscar Wilde
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