systems of power that govern everything

Power dynamics govern every human interaction that has or will ever happen. Less sophisticated dynamics exist among other living species. It is a part of life. Player blindness is integral to the power system. By player I mean, an individual engaged in a power dynamic; and by blindness I mean, being unaware of the power dynamics at play. Player awareness results in systemic upheaval, retaliation, protest, and often further abuse. Player awareness is rare. By awareness I mean, when a player becomes directly aware of either their own power privilege or under-privilege, or both.

Our society favors straight, white, middle to upper class, financially-stable, able-bodied, cis-gender males. Intersectionality is when systems of power intersect in a person's identity. For example, a straigh black man, a lower class white female, or a wealthy asian transgender man.

The root of ALL human fear is under-privilege. Because privilege and power dynamics exist in every human interaction, beyond our interactions with society at large. People are afraid of is not having control over ourselves or our destiny. People become crippled with fear and anxiety when tending to their basic needs is not within their control. There is a system of privilege and power in every marriage, between every parent and child, and in every weird, messed up relationship that ever existed.

In a marriage where one partner works, builds a career, and is highly employable, while the other partner stays home with children and doesn't work, neglects a career, and is not highly employable, there is a power dynamic within the marriage where the non-working partner depends upon the other for financial stability. Not only is there an out-of-balance system of power in the normal state of the marriage, if and when the marriage status changes, the non-working partner is in financial ruin. For some, the solution to this conundrum is life insurance with divorce as a non-option. Unfortunately, that solution still highly under-privileges the non-working partner because the working partner always has the ability to leave the marriage with an upper hand; that capacity alone is a power dynamic.

While most people are directly blind to the power dynamics that govern their lives, everyone is acutely indirectly aware. Power dynamics are indispensable to our identities. Power dynamics are slow and difficult to change precisely because they are tethered so tightly to our identities. We are absolutely defined by our positions in the power dynamics that govern every human interaction, every human relationship, and every human system, organization, and government.

The systems that enforce power privilege in our society do not exist on merit. That every president of the United States has been a man is not because men are better leaders. That the incarceration rate for people of color is quadruple that for white people is not because white people are more peaceful or commit less crimes. That transgender people have a 50% chance of being sexually assaulted is not because transgender people are more promiscuous.

Just sharing a few thoughts I've had lately about power, privilege, and individual identity. I haven't written a paper in a while and well, these thoughts just bubble in me all day. I see that most people are totally clueless to the power dynamics that govern their lives and the lives of people around them. It doesn't have to be this way. Becoming educated about power dynamics is one of the most important things that's ever happened to me. Next time, might I dive into corporate power, consumer power, consumer pushover ism (highly sophisticated term coined by me), corporate truth-telling, consumer education, and consumer awareness.