Jay wrote an interesting point which I may disagree with,
>As, in my
>hypothesis, an oppressed group, younger humans are more likely to
>have a better understanding of their oppressors than vice versa.
>As women have to understand men more than men do women, etc.
Marx also thought that the working class would be more sensitive to coercion
and exploitation because they suffer from exploitation. The history of
Russian revolution and 70 years of Russian socialism (with officials having
origin in working class) questions this hypothesis. Yes, oppressed groups
have to be more sensitive than oppressors by the nature of their dependency
on the oppressor, lack of recourses and freedom (they simply can't afford
themselves to be insensitive). But this sensitivity seems to be contextual
and relational, it seems to exist within oppressing practices. When the
practices disappear or change (in regard who is oppressed, who is oppressor)
the sensitivity (and humanity) of a specific social group may also
disappear. My point is that sensitivity or insensitivity is rooted in
sociocultural practices but not in social groups or their history.
Eugene Matusov
UC Santa Cruz
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Eugene Matusov
UC Santa Cruz