@dfbdfb "But doesn’t making such a value judgment (that is, “that she has internalized the message that such coverings convey”) on your part require mind-reading not just once, but twice: first by reading the mind of the woman wearing the item to determine her motivations, and second by mind-reading all of the members of the cultural group she’s a part of to determine what the item means to those in that group?
I tend to be skeptical of claims that require mind-reading."
You are correct that the participants may not consciously see it that way Consolation is describing it. It is also true that many of the members of the cultural group do not see it that way at all. Most people who are members of a group, honestly believe that they are the “good guys.” It takes a strong, open, honest mind to see the bad in your own group and ask whether the group offers the same rights to all races, beliefs, and sexes, and not then rationalize away the bad.
Previously you mentioned that “…we all have our traditions that seem a bit off, and often coercive and oppressive, to those outside our cultural group.”
@dfbdfb Substituting the phrase “many of us” for “we all” I would say that you have this exactly right. It is easier to see the faults on other groups and rationalize the faults of our own group.
The mistake that then followed was the suggestion that many groups coerce and oppress others, so that is fine because we all do it. It is not fine in any group. We should be trying to end it in all groups not accepting it. Unfortunately, many people can only understand this when their group is the victim. Then they think it is a big deal.
We can’t successfully integrate different groups in society by just pointing out the shortcomings of other groups and failing to address the coercion/oppression/hate in our own group. How can we teach children that all people should have equal rights and respect, if we have not taught them to accord equal rights and respect to all members of our own groups?
Ultimately, if we can get conservatives of all races, sexes, and belief systems to treat everyone else with respect, there will be peace. If we fail at this, then wars and killing that hardline believers on all sides want, will continue and probably escalate.
You pointed out that I don’t see issues like people in your group, because I am not in the group, and you are right. However, consider the possibility that it is the non-group members who see things more clearly in all groups. Also consider that most of us are only in the group we are in by an accident of our birth. Who your parents are usually determines whether you are a Jew, Christian, Muslim or something else. That means that each of us could just as easily be in another group besides the one we are in. To have a peaceful world we all need to put an end to oppression and hate in all groups including our own. If everyone continues to point it out hate and oppression in other groups, but rationalizes it and refuses to change it within their own group, we will never make progress.