A   C o m p r e h e n s i v e   M a n u a l

Most groups or organizations want the

no means an exhaustive list; it is only a

largest base of support possible.  When

brief sample of oppressive behaviors.  

members of a group, or the group as a

whole, behave in an unaware, insensitive

Most of these behaviors are unintention 

or oppressive fashion, then those people

al; unfortunately, intended or not, they

at the receiving end of these behaviors

have the same devastating consequences.

( target *) tend not to join a group.  They

Members of targeted groups experience

lose effectiveness and motivation, and

innumerable versions of these unintend 

their morale and investment in the group

ed,  little  things, day in, day out, year in,

decreases without anyone necessarily

year out.  These  little  things form a pat 

understanding what is happening or why.

tern, and the pattern is debilitating. 

One thing to remember is that dealing

In the process of growing up,

with issues of diversity means dealing

all whites have learned

with feelings.  All sorts of feelings  

racism   the question is not

anger, sadness, discomfort, guilt, embar 

whether whites are racist, but

how and what are whites

rassment, confusion.  People who have

doing to change?

been targeted by racism, sexism, anti 

Semitism, classism, ableism, heterosex 

ism and so forth may be angry or mis 

Your group will be most effective when it

trustful, or appear to those of us on the

is one that is welcoming to folks from tar 

other side as  oversensitive.   It's hard to

geted groups:  racially oppressed groups

  African Americans, Asians, Latino/as,

*

Target:  person who has lit 

Native Americans and others; women,

tle access to social power

poor and working class people; Jews;

and resources and has to

people with disabilities; older people and

deal with mistreatment by

younger people; and, depending upon

those who do.have access to

your goals, people who are bisexual,

social power and resources.

transgender and, at times, heterosexual

allies.  People from these groups are often

targets but at  times they can be agents as

know what it's like to endure the daily

well.  Remember that white, able bodied,

 little  things.  Those of us who have not

Gentile, middle class gay men can be tar 

been the target of other forms of oppres 

gets too.

sion may think we know it all because

we've been oppressed as lesbians, gay

The following will give you a few con 

men, and bisexuals.  We may know some

crete examples of behaviors that occur in

ways that oppression operates, but each

groups that make a group less welcom 

form of oppression is unique and differ 

ing.  We assume the reader to be lgbt and

ent.  We can fall into feeling guilty,

the groups in question to be lgbt groups;

defensive, or confused.  It is important to

however, these examples may very well

keep in mind that ridding ourselves of the

apply to others too.  It is important to

attitudes and behaviors we have learned

address the special needs of other groups

is a challenge and takes time.  

with the same sensitivity we want and

expect for our own.  The following is by

M a n a g i n g   Y o u r   G r o u p

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