Bully Power
[SARN Memo for January 20, 2010]
(Part three of a five-part series)
There are many types of power. We’re all very familiar with bully power, where one person is able to shove another person around. Maybe the bully is bigger. Maybe she has more money. Maybe he’s the boss. Maybe she has more education.
This “power over” is what many self-advocates feel the service system has. Power over them. Power to meet its needs, which may be different from the needs of the self-advocates. Power over always has someone under. And that doesn’t feel good.
[Next week: People Power]
Respond to this memo!1. Group Exercise
Divide into two groups. Ask each group to make a quick list of who has power over you in your life. Pick one example and devise a very short skit (a minute or two) showing how that person uses his or her power over you. Allow time to plan and practice. Then take turns showing the skit to the other groups.
After both performances, talk about how it feels to be “under.” How would it feel to be “over”? Is this the kind of power that will advance self-advocacy?
2. Resource
Reach for the Power Switch: How Ordinary People Can Use Power to Make Change
Learn to recognize the different kinds of power, and begin using the healthy forms of power to build self-advocacy, using this self-led workshop.
Today’s Trivia Question:
What US state has the highest percentage of African Americans?
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Utah
- Maine
(The answer will be published in the next Memo.)
Answer to January 13th Trivia Question: c. Hawaii – 58% [source: US Census 2000]
Question was: What US state has the highest percentage of Asian Americans?
- Washington
- North Dakota
- Hawaii
- Alabama
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