Poet Adrienne Rich wrote powerfully of the “psychic disequilibrium” that occurs when people don’t see their own identities reflected in the language of others, “as if you looked in the mirror and saw nothing.” This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Psychic Disequilibrium”
We were talking earlier about using gender-inclusive language.
And I appreciated the point that you made, Grant, about not seeing yourself reflected in language.
And it reminds me of one of my favorite quotations from the poet Adrienne Rich. It goes,
When those who have the power to name and to socially construct reality choose not to see you or hear you, whether you are dark-skinned, old, disabled, female, or speak with a different accent or dialect than theirs, when someone with the authority of a teacher, say, describes the world and you are not in it, there is a moment of psychic disequilibrium, as if you looked into a mirror and saw nothing.
Perfect. Exactly what we try to do on this show, right?
Yeah, exactly what you said.
