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dhampyresaI'm not dead! Mostly not posting because I feel I don't have anything to say or can't figure out how to say it then I feel bad for not posting and shy away from DW. So, in the interest of breaking that streak, let me post about something that came up in conversation yesterday and has a couple times in the past.
Alice Coffin's Le Génie lesbien[1] was the first time I came across the concept of vertical vs horizontal marginalisations. I cannot remember much else about the book, much less if she said she got the idea from somewhere or not, but this stuck with me as a useful concept, so allow me to relay it as I understand it.
[1] The title could be translated as either "Lesbian genius" or, given the emphasis on movement building and organising, "Lesbian engineering".
A "vertical" marginalisation is when the marginalised person is when (most) people of that marginalisation are from similarly marginalised families/communities. For example, most Black people grow up in Black families. Obviously there are exceptions -- most Muslims are from Muslim families, but converts are not -- but it holds true for most members of that community. It's "vertical" because you get it from your parents who get it from theirs and so on, going "up" your family tree.
By contrast, a "horizontal" marginalisation is one whose members are not part of a community by "default". The book uses the example of most queer people not being from queer families. The horizontality is from having to seek out the community in the present. This difference from your family of origin can function as a double penalty: on top of being alien to society at large (if not oppressed), you are also alien inside your home (if not oppressed). This can impact your ability to know who you are and be your authentic self -- which is itself a form of trauma.
Obviously this is a very broad generalisation and there are many individual cases that don't fit either category, but it highlights a difference I had never considered before and is an interesting way to look at things.
I think I might do more posts about bits and bobs and I learn(ed) from the non-fiction I read, if anyone's interested. I should warn my reading taste is very eclectic, though.
Alice Coffin's Le Génie lesbien[1] was the first time I came across the concept of vertical vs horizontal marginalisations. I cannot remember much else about the book, much less if she said she got the idea from somewhere or not, but this stuck with me as a useful concept, so allow me to relay it as I understand it.
[1] The title could be translated as either "Lesbian genius" or, given the emphasis on movement building and organising, "Lesbian engineering".
A "vertical" marginalisation is when the marginalised person is when (most) people of that marginalisation are from similarly marginalised families/communities. For example, most Black people grow up in Black families. Obviously there are exceptions -- most Muslims are from Muslim families, but converts are not -- but it holds true for most members of that community. It's "vertical" because you get it from your parents who get it from theirs and so on, going "up" your family tree.
By contrast, a "horizontal" marginalisation is one whose members are not part of a community by "default". The book uses the example of most queer people not being from queer families. The horizontality is from having to seek out the community in the present. This difference from your family of origin can function as a double penalty: on top of being alien to society at large (if not oppressed), you are also alien inside your home (if not oppressed). This can impact your ability to know who you are and be your authentic self -- which is itself a form of trauma.
Obviously this is a very broad generalisation and there are many individual cases that don't fit either category, but it highlights a difference I had never considered before and is an interesting way to look at things.
I think I might do more posts about bits and bobs and I learn(ed) from the non-fiction I read, if anyone's interested. I should warn my reading taste is very eclectic, though.