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(Thread) Victimhood and the Trump-FOX-GOP
@HeerJeet is amazed that even when these guys “win” they feel like victims.
It’s definitely counterintuitive that members of the Fox-Trump-GOP view themselves as victims—but they do.
Yale Professor @jasonintrator explains . . .
@HeerJeet is amazed that even when these guys “win” they feel like victims.
It’s definitely counterintuitive that members of the Fox-Trump-GOP view themselves as victims—but they do.
Yale Professor @jasonintrator explains . . .
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 1/ From Prof. Stanley: The dominant group feels victimized by encroaching equality because the dominant group believes that nature forms a hierarchy.
Thus when “inferior” groups seek equality, the dominant group thinks the inferior group want to displace them at the top.
Thus when “inferior” groups seek equality, the dominant group thinks the inferior group want to displace them at the top.
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 2/ What’s actually happening, of course, is that the oppressed groups want equality.
But if people hold a hierarchal view of nature, the demand for equality feels threatening, because they think the people demanding equality are actually trying to achieve power over them.
But if people hold a hierarchal view of nature, the demand for equality feels threatening, because they think the people demanding equality are actually trying to achieve power over them.
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 3/ They feel that they're losing something.
This feeling of loss has been variously explained by numerous scholars and theorists. See, for example, my thread on the ideas of Harvard Prof. Levitsky from yesterday:
This feeling of loss has been variously explained by numerous scholars and theorists. See, for example, my thread on the ideas of Harvard Prof. Levitsky from yesterday:
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 4/ People who think nature forms a hierarchy don’t believe true equality among different groups (and types) is possible, which is why some white men feel like a true liberal democracy means their own ruin.
(For most of U.S. history, rights and privileges were for white men only)
(For most of U.S. history, rights and privileges were for white men only)
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 5/ Jeet Heer was talking about Catholicism. Hierarchy is the natural part of many religions. (Right?)
The GOP isn't taking us someplace entirely new.
They’re taking us back to the 19th century, when the idea of paternalism was deeply entrenched in much of American culture.
The GOP isn't taking us someplace entirely new.
They’re taking us back to the 19th century, when the idea of paternalism was deeply entrenched in much of American culture.
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 6/ Paternalism held that there was a natural hierarchy with white men at the top and black women at the bottom. Under this doctrine, blacks, women, Native Americans, etc., were better off under the care and “protection” of white men.
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 7/ Women and minority communities were denied equality partly on the grounds that they needed protection.
This is how 19th century VP John Calhoun could argue that slavery was a “positive good."
stolaf.edu/people/fitz/CO…
This is how 19th century VP John Calhoun could argue that slavery was a “positive good."
stolaf.edu/people/fitz/CO…
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 8/ For women, paternalism was a time when rape was a property crime and sexual assault was not recognized as a crime.
“What?" you ask, "rape was a property crime?”
See⤵️
“What?" you ask, "rape was a property crime?”
See⤵️
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 9/ This was what Don Jr. meant when he said “It’s nice to see a conservative man fight for his honor and his family against a 35 year old claim with ZERO evidence . . .”
People who assume that nature prefers a hierarchy look at a true liberal democracy as chaotic and unnatural.
People who assume that nature prefers a hierarchy look at a true liberal democracy as chaotic and unnatural.
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 10/ Trump and pals feel victimized by the demands for equality and are responding by doing their best to roll us back to the time white men were secure at the top of the hierarchy.
If Trump and pals succeed in rolling us backwards, what happens next?
If Trump and pals succeed in rolling us backwards, what happens next?
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator 11/ We will need people to do the work of rolling us forward again.
Will it be hard?
Certainly.
This time, though, we know how to do it. Susan B. Anthony, Thurgood Marshall, and many others taught us how.
See:
End/
Will it be hard?
Certainly.
This time, though, we know how to do it. Susan B. Anthony, Thurgood Marshall, and many others taught us how.
See:
End/
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator Adding: Once you start looking for victimization, you see all through the Trump-FOX-GOP statements. Here was Trump characterizing himself as a victim of Mueller and what he sees as irrational hatred of him.
@HeerJeet @jasonintrator All my threads are also blogposts. You can view this one here: terikanefield-blog.com/victimhood-and…
