Intent vs. Impact: Blind -Isms and Harm
- Casey Anne Brimmer
- Jul 4
- 3 min read
A few weeks ago on The Affirming Practice Podcast, my co-host Bob and I did an episode on "blind-isms"—like colorblind racism—but applied to a range of systemic oppressions. These "-isms" allow people to escape the guilt of racism, sexism, heterosexism, and more, but they don't erase the impact. In reality, we see race, class, gender, sex, ability, and sexual orientation because our societies won't allow us not to. The systems on which our societies run are embedded so deeply into our realities that we can't just choose to ignore them.
Besides, you can try telling me all you want that you don't see my gender, but you do see me—and I know you can't truly see me without seeing my gender. You can't see my anxiety about public bathrooms, or how it hurts a little more every time someone who knows better uses the wrong pronouns. You won't see how those twinges of pain build up. It’s like being poked: once hurts for a second, but being poked a hundred times in the same spot amplifies that pain. Even if you don't intend to cause harm, you might be doing it anyway—and you never know if you're the first poke or the thousandth.
I'm not perfect when it comes to this, but I work hard to improve, to apologize when I mess up, and to change my behavior moving forward. An apology without action is just a waste of breath. As I mentioned in the video above, I've delivered my share of colorblind racism, disability-blind ableism, and surely other blind-isms in my time on this earth. For a long time, I was taught this was the right choice—to not see color, disability, or gender—but then I learned better. Now that I know better, I can do better. When best practices change, we have to change with them.
"Not seeing" identity is a choice to not see people for who they tell you they are. It is harmful. Intended or not, it attempts to say two things:
Who you are does not matter.
The systems that have harmed you are not in play here.
But the reality is, these systems are always in play. Blind-isms are a choice to ignore the systems of power, privilege, and oppression that cause active harm every day. They alleviate the guilt of privilege for those who claim them while upholding the very harm they reportedly challenge. In reality, these blind-isms were intentionally taught to avoid accountability, dividing and conquering marginalized communities. They build barriers instead of eliminating them.
If you're still reading, you might be asking yourself, "But what can I do?" Here are some steps you can take to challenge blind-isms and examine your own privilege:
Listen and Learn: Tune into podcasts on this topic, like the episode of The Affirming Practice Podcast embedded above, or watch videos like this TEDx Talk by Mariam Veiszadeh.
Self-Reflect: Look up practices like identity mapping and privilege walks. These offer a great jumping-off point for these tough topics.
Have Hard Conversations: Look back at my last blog post on how to ask complex questions around identity using the guidelines of context, common sense, and kind curiosity. In this case, focusing on context is the most important. Direct your questions toward people who have actively volunteered to do this type of emotional labor, rather than forcing it upon marginalized individuals who haven't.
Ultimately, it is our job as individuals to do the work necessary to recognize our privileges and use them to better the world. If you're interested in learning more about affirming and inclusive practices, I hope you'll tune in to The Affirming Practice Podcast, where we discuss complex topics of identity, understanding, and welcoming. New episodes release Mondays at 12 PM Eastern.
As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and questions for this blog post and on the Affirming Practice Podcast. To ask questions anonymously, please click this link to an external google form.
Visit my social media at:
Instagram: instagram.com/ca.brimmer
Or visit the Affirming Practice Podcast pages:
Instagram: instagram.com/affirming_practice_pod
Where to listen: https://tr.ee/r6zlIudsYe
My name is Casey Anne Brimmer and I am an artist, activist, educator, and newly minted podcast host. If you found value in reading this blog, please consider sharing it to your social media or via direct message with friends, family, and/or colleagues. If you would like to support my work here, and/or as an artist, activist, and educator exploring topics related to this one, please visit my webshop at www.cabrimmer.com/shop, or use cashapp $caseyanneb, or venmo: @CABrimmer. I appreciate any and all support from my readers, friends, family, and colleagues.
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