Should men be leaders in the feminist movement?

[thucythucy]

85. "Nothing about us, without us" is one of the slogans

of the disability rights movement. It comes out of the experience of many people with disabilities of having non-disabled people making decisions for us, deciding what we want and where and how and even IF we should live, all under the assumption that people with disabilities can't possibly do these things for ourselves. In fact, the charity model of disability has been a huge obstacle to disability rights.

I'm not saying there isn't a role for non-disabled people in the movement, or that non-disabled people can't ever be advocates, although all else being equal I generally prefer to see peer advocacy, as opposed to advocates coming from "a position of power" relative to those for whom they advocate. And I'm certainly not suggesting that your motives or actions are in any way suspect or a problem: that would be entirely presumptuous on my part. But one has always to bear in mind that "leadership" and "advocacy" by non-disabled people on behalf of people with disabilities has often turned into, or come out of, condescension and ableism, and thus to be always on guard against them.

People who, a half century ago, were seen as entirely unable to manage or advocate for themselves have organized to become politically active--groups like People First, MindFreedom, and the Autism Rights Movement come to mind. This would never have happened if non-disabled people had been allowed to continue leading them, if people with disabilities hadn't developed for themselves their own organizations and leadership.

Anyway, I'm glad you recognize that, compared to people with disabilities, you are in a "position of power" and "privilege." Recognizing this, I'm optimistic you also recognize that there is often a fine line between "advocating" for someone, and oppressing them by keeping them from advocating for themselves.

Best wishes.