A Culture of Only One Right Way, Part 1

This episode is continues my series which looks into the characteristics of white supremacist culture with the idea that there is only one right way. This is only one right way to be, to do things, to believe, to think, to live etc...The resistance, shaming and corrections we experiences with our families, schools and careers, when we impulsively give suggestions for help, sharing our ideas or even in creating a different process in doing something that is more helpful for us or even makes more sense, shows that any challenge to the way things are done, is not acceptable. We quickly learn that if you can’t get on board with the way things are done then you are the problem and must change in order to fit. 

This characteristic doesn’t take into consideration the complexities of who we are, our conditions, our cultures and the intersecting identities that we all have and the oppressions that we face. These differences in all of us can make accessing the tools to reach these unrealistic expectations difficult for most of us, but also impact the way we see ourselves and are seen by others, which can make even our attempts to do so met with ridicule or shame. 

I’ve split this characteristic into two episodes. This first episode looks deeper at what this characteristic means and how it might look from various intersectional lenses. I’ll talk more about the specific aspects of this characteristic as taken from the work by Tema Okun at www.dismantlingracism.org and sharing my thoughts on how this could look in the lives of various communities.

Key points: 

The belief that there is one right way to do things. Once people are introduced to ‘the right way,’ they will willingly adopt it;When someone does not adapt or change, then something is wrong with them (and there is nothing wrong with those who are expecting that change or conformity in the first place).Causes significant barriers to change, agility, innovation, and teamworkCreates a sense of exclusion and isolation for people who are not comfortable or at ease with ‘the right wayOften involves stubbornness and dogmatism: a position is final and not up for discussion, even in fairly low-stakes decisions and conversations

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