This was such a balm to read. Schooling is one of many areas where I see us—normal people trying to carve out a life—wedged between authoritarianism (behaviorism and compliance-training in public schooling) and unfettered capitalism (exploitation of women’s free labor and reliance on resources that require capital to access). There are no real individual solutions while we are wedged between these forces, and I think the best we can do is acknowledge that something vital is being erased and keep kindling the dream of more care-centric social arrangements in every way possible (writing, talking, organizing, private dreaming…).
As someone who left evangelical Christianity a few years ago I think a lot about how the dominant spiritual communities in America are high-control/authoritarian. Leaving the church I felt similarly wedged between authoritarianism and capitalism. Churches are among the last third spaces remaining, but to partake you have to subject yourself to high-control spiritual formation. I often think about how, if our dominant spiritual communities were care-centric, if they cultivated autonomy and true felt-safety, maybe we could create a village out of neighbors and family. But in my neighborhood, I feel that wedge. I don’t want to be seen if my child can’t conform, because to be seen is to be unsafe, and I can’t be seen without showing off capital. So no village, and no ambitions to create one.
Anyway, sorry for the long, philosophical comment. It would probably fit better in my own essay on my own page, but I’m honestly too burnt out these days to make essays 😅😭
This was such a balm to read. Schooling is one of many areas where I see us—normal people trying to carve out a life—wedged between authoritarianism (behaviorism and compliance-training in public schooling) and unfettered capitalism (exploitation of women’s free labor and reliance on resources that require capital to access). There are no real individual solutions while we are wedged between these forces, and I think the best we can do is acknowledge that something vital is being erased and keep kindling the dream of more care-centric social arrangements in every way possible (writing, talking, organizing, private dreaming…).
As someone who left evangelical Christianity a few years ago I think a lot about how the dominant spiritual communities in America are high-control/authoritarian. Leaving the church I felt similarly wedged between authoritarianism and capitalism. Churches are among the last third spaces remaining, but to partake you have to subject yourself to high-control spiritual formation. I often think about how, if our dominant spiritual communities were care-centric, if they cultivated autonomy and true felt-safety, maybe we could create a village out of neighbors and family. But in my neighborhood, I feel that wedge. I don’t want to be seen if my child can’t conform, because to be seen is to be unsafe, and I can’t be seen without showing off capital. So no village, and no ambitions to create one.
Anyway, sorry for the long, philosophical comment. It would probably fit better in my own essay on my own page, but I’m honestly too burnt out these days to make essays 😅😭
I feel like you're in my brain reading my thoughts and putting into words what I struggle to articulate. I truly agree with every single bit of this!
haha i'm so relieved other people are thinking about this too!!
me too!
This gave me a lot to think about, thank you!
thanks for reading!
Yes, yes, yes to all of this!! I truly could not relate more!
I’m so glad it resonated with you!!