“To be asked to communicate whether in writing or in person with the person who has harassed you, is to be asked to reopen channels of communication that you closed to protect yourself. The person who abused you is given more chances to express himself.”
“Reconciliation can be experienced as the enforcement of communication.”
https://feministkilljoys.com/2021/01/27/apologies-for-harm-apologies-as-harm/
“The uses of reconciliation as a governing strategy by organizations is not unrelated to the uses of reconciliation by settler colonial nation states. “
(Thinking about all this in the light of my employer’s attempts to be seen to be doing something about an undeniable bullying and harassment problem... which includes touting a “mediation service”.)
@ghost_bird Duly added to my bookmarks. I love it when writing is genuinely /insightful/, giving form to the unease one often feels on reading political journalism of the commonly uncritical variety.
@porsupah Oh, Sara Ahmed is tremendously good. It’s well worth looking through her older posts too, when you’re in the mood.
@ghost_bird I wish Sara Ahmed joined the Fediverse. She has so much to share.
@cynthia It’s a nice thought, but I’m glad to have her long-form blog posts (and books) too.
“If an apology is made to keep a relationship going that is harmful, an apology is harmful.”