Faith Quote by Andrea Dworkin
““The central question is not: what is force and what is freedom? That is a good question, but in the realm of human cruelty - the realm of history - it is utterly abstract. The central question is: why is force never acknowledged as such when used against the racially or sexually despised? Nazi terror used against the Jews is not in dispute. Still, there is an almost universal - and intrinsically anti-Semitic - conviction that the Jews went voluntarily to the ovens. Rational discourse on how the Jews were terrorized does not displace or transform this irrational conviction. And similarly, no matter what force is used against women as a class or as individuals, the universal conviction is that women want (either seek out or assent to) whatever happens to them, however awful, dangerous, destructive, painful, or humiliating. A statement is made about the nature of the Jew, the nature of the woman. The nature of each and both is to be a victim. A metaphysical victim is never forced, only actualized.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Politics of Victimhood, Andrea Dworkin, 1992
Force is often denied when used against marginalized groups, creating a narrative that victims are complicit in their oppression.
In simple terms: Society often blames victims for the force used against them.
Key Takeaway
Challenge narratives that excuse or hide oppression.
Themes
gender
antisemitism
power
victimhood
Mood
critical
determined
Type
activist
philosophical
When to use this quote
- activism
- education
- policy reform
Key Concepts
structural violence
social denial
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies recognize and name hidden forces?
- What actions dismantle victim-blaming narratives?
A Different Perspective
Denial can perpetuate injustice and silence victims.
