ASSIMILATE/RESIST:Strategies for the marginalized

“To be in the margin is to be part of the whole, but outside the main body.”

- bell hooks

Marginal vs.

Central

In any society, the group of people with the most power will define themselves as the cultural default.

THE CENTER

Marginalized groups exist in relation to those in the center.

The marginal are judged by their resemblance/proximity to those in

the center.

OPTIONS:

RESISTANCE

ASSIMILATION

Assimilation

Involves an attempt to move closer to the center.

Resistance

Generally involves some sort of struggle against the hierarchy/power structures already in place

Neither strategy is superior.

Assimilation

• Total assimilation is seldom truly possible.

• One might successfully assimilate, but reinforce larger systems of oppression by doing so.

• Assimilation can lead to being complicit in/ a victim of tokenism

“There’s a false power which masculine society offers to a few women who ‘think like men’ on condition that they use it to maintain things as they are…”

- Adrienne Rich

Sometimes assimilating allows one who is marginalized to gain enough recognition/validity to vocalize resistance and help others.

Resistance

• Can take on many forms, but resistance acts as a way to dispute the authority of the center’s position

• The goal in resisting is usually to undo the power structures for the whole society, not just to become one of the people in power.

Sometimes choosing to resist increases one’s outsider status instead of tearing down power

structures.

RESISTANCE AND ASSIMILATION ARE NOT OPPOSITES.

These two strategies can inform one another. Sometimes an action

which looks like assimilation is actually subtle resistance.

“Resistance is everywhere, it always has been and always will be. Just because someone is not resisting in the same way you are (being a vegan, an “out” lesbian, a political organizer) does not mean that they are not resisting. Being told you are a worthless piece of shit and not believing it is a form of resistance. One girl calling another girl to warn her about a guy that date raped her is another. While she may look like a big haired make-up girl who goes out with jocks, she is a soldier along with every other girl.” - Kathleen Hanna