I am tremendously glad Terry Crews participated on a panel at the Women of the World summit and said some pretty terrible things. He acknowledged that,
Thanks to the Cut, I was made aware of his comment, and again, I say, THANK YOU, Terry.
Terry’s blunt acknowledgement of the worst kind of sexism – the kind we do not see often or recoil from when we do – helps us remember that atrocious horrors and microaggressions are made of the same fundamental essence.
We must acknowledge the extremities of sexism, even though many of us only face microaggressions, subtle expectations, and polite or even benevolent sexism on a daily basis. Because like any insidious garden vine, we cannot get rid of it by only attacking the leaves which are relatively innocuous and easy to spot.
When draw the lines and make connections between the merely-irritating and the truly obscene, we can begin to truly uproot the un-examined limitations which oppressive gender standards place on humans. (Yes, ALL humans).
So, stop telling women they are overreacting. She is not. Ever. When someone appears on high alert do not dismiss or minimize their fear. (p.s. It never makes people more confident when you tell them they are idiots). Consider that they have probably seen or experienced something you did not see. Give them the benefit of the doubt – and by “them” I do not mean the accused. I mean the accuser.
Listen to Terry Crews, and ask yourself, what small moment of assumption have I imposed upon other people? What have I rejected, refused to understand, or failed to care about because of my own lack of empathetic imagination? How have I tried to reimpose roles upon unique humans and thus, failed to appreciate them?
Because that’s all it takes to be in a better work: take a step back from your fears and defensiveness, pause, and made good-faith attempt at empathy.