Challenging 'ist' Statements

 

“No single tradition monopolises the truth. We must glean the best values of all traditions and work together to remove the tensions between traditions in order to give peace a chance.”  
Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Buddhist Monk and Scholar

(in no particular order of importance)

·         Seek to determine a short-term strategy for personal (incremental) change.

·       Consider whether the way you are expressing your thoughts and feelings
make it apparent to them that you care about who they are?

·         Bring the issue to the attention of these with power, not necessarily the person

·         Create opportunities for ‘follow up’ discussions

·         Remember: ‘the patter is not the person’!

·         De-personalise from the individual to Society.

·         Explore the beliefs, values and assumptions behind the statement.

·         Get to the roots i.e. the fundamental problem not just the symptom.

·         Explore the environmental factors that underpin or reinforce the beliefs.

·         Do you know how their (limiting / ignorant[1]) belief serves them?

·         Help them to see the way those factors damage their targets


(being well informed on facts and statistics is a constructive thing to do)

·         Let them know how you are affected

be willing to share your vulnerabilities, but remember, they are not your therapist (unless they are)

·         Convey how the attitude affects and benefits them e.g. how they might be advantaged by sexism, racism, ageism, any other ism.

·         What’s in it for them, after all, to want to bother to change[2]? Their reasons, not necessarily yours!

[1] Ignorance can be a basis for discussion and learning, it's not necessarily a hanging offence!

[2] See The Self Change Model