The Subgroups of Movements

This week, we read about an advocate for African American Women. Barbara Smith experienced discrimination in a few different ways. She had to navigate life as an African American and as a woman, two identities that were treated as other or less than in the past and still to this day. What was interesting about the article was one point where she questioned how white women could face the same discriminations as her. She believed that they couldn't understand her solely because they were white. It was interesting to read because it was something that I had never really thought about before. Women are discriminated against, but when they are divided in this sense, African American women face more struggles as opposed to their white counterparts.

This made me think of my movement in children's mental health. Back then, mental health was seen as something taboo and typically people were considered "mad." Now, it seems that adults are being more open about their struggles, but it seems like children are being talked over when they could face struggles that can affect them into adulthood. Adults feel as though children couldn't possibly have anything in common with them when they are both fighting the same issue of needing someone to help them find the tools they need to help with mental struggles.

Discrimination against women and mental health are both topics that need attention, though instead of them being issues that can be focussed on as a whole, they need sub groups because of the fact that different groups of people are affected in a unique way. I believe that people should come together when fighting for something that they believe in, but it can become overwhelming when there are people who face more discriminations than other groups of people. There needs to be an understanding in most cases, and not everyone experiences the same things in life. The shock when Barbara Smith observed a white woman and questioned how a white woman could be discriminated against is understandable since they are two people who may face some of the same struggles, but do not share all of the same struggles. The same could be said for adults dealing with mental health as opposed to children who deal with mental health or disabled people vs abled people struggling with mental health. There should be spaces for everyone so that they can feel safe expressing their thoughts and concerns.