Notebook: Hierarchies and Hegemonies

Notes

Hierarchies

  • Within any population there will always be “in groups” and “out groups” (see quote below in the Conservatism section). While members of the in-groups may try to preserve their power by presenting themselves as victims of oppression, this is almost never the case. At least, not for the reasons the members of the in-groups believe themselves to be oppressed.
  • When deciding who should be part of an In Group and part of an Out Group, there are many facets to how humans are categorized. The most obvious, and most often used, are race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion,  class.
  • Within each facet, there are groups which have been dominant, held the real power, etc., for a very long time. And members of those groups, being used to the privilege associated with simply being a member of that group, will come to believe that any advantages inherent in being part of that group are in fact earned rewards.
  • Along with the belief that any advantage or power inherent in being part of one of these groups, inevitably comes the belief that, should members of the corresponding out-groups begin to enjoy some of the advantages of being part of the in-group, then that means a corresponding loss of power or authority or privilege or advantage for members of the in-group. And as the saying goes, “When you’re accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression.”
  • The reactionary backlash against members of out-groups by members of the in-groups can be seen in the variety of supremacist viewpoints which, since 2016, have become part of mainstream conservative thought and messaging. Violent words and actions targeting women, minorities, gay and trans people, and poor/unhoused people are seen as a defense against a nebulous and constantly-shifting “other,” the actual identity of which is mutable depending on the target audience and their corresponding out-groups.
  • In order to set the groundwork for future notes, here are some axioms regarding in-groups in the USA.
    • Race – Never in the history of the USA have white people been systematically oppressed or marginalized for being white. To believe otherwise is ignorant. To act in support of that belief is cowardly.
    • Sex – Never in the history of the USA have men been systematically oppressed or marginalized for being men. To believe otherwise is ignorant. To act in support of that belief is cowardly.
    • Gender – Never in the history of the USA have CIS people been systematically oppressed or marginalized for being CIS. To believe otherwise is ignorant. To act in support of that belief is cowardly.
    • Sexual orientation – Never in the history of the USA have straight people been systematically oppressed or marginalized for being straight. To believe otherwise is ignorant. To act in support of that belief is cowardly.
  • The next few are in-groups not related to intrinsic qualities of people in those groups, but rather extrinsic.
    • Religion – Christianity, in its many facets and sects, is the dominant religion in the USA, and though the United States, by design, does not have a state religion, the culture therein very much favors Christianity to the point where other, other than in terms of pure capital, any other type of power includes a nod to, if not full-throated support of, some variety of Christianity. Therefore, never in the history of the USA have Christians been oppressed or marginalized for being Christian. To believe otherwise is ignorant. To act on that belief is cowardly.
    • Citizenship – Never in the history of the USA have natural-born citizens been systematically oppressed or marginalized for being natural-born citizens. To believe otherwise is ignorant. To act on that belief is cowardly.
    • Political Orientation

Conservatism

Books

Antonio Gramsci Reader
Isabel Wilkerson, Caste: The Origins of our Discontents

Links