Quotessence
Home / Quotes / Quote by Tessa McWatt

Quote by Tessa McWatt

“Identifying as a woman of colour has been crucial in my understanding of structural politics in society. But this focus hasn't changed the plantation structure, the violence against black bodies and women's bodies. When we stake our primary claim on a racial identity, that identity can be used against us, to keep us in our category, to keep us divided. When we are so divided, it appears that it is impossible to address inequality, because it looks as though we're calling for "sameness" not equality. Which is, of course, not what we want at all.”

Quote by Tessa McWatt

Work

Shame on Me: An Anatomy of Race and Belonging

Browse quotes and source details for this work. more

Author

Tessa McWatt

Browse famous quotes and profile details for Tessa McWatt. more

You May Also Like

“Men's pain and existential angst are the stuff of myth and legends and narratives that shape everything that we do, but women's pain is a backdrop - a plot development to push the story along for the real protagonists. Disrupting the story means we're needy or selfish, or worst of all, man-haters - as if after all men have done to women over the ages the mere act of not liking them for it is most offensive.”

“The IPS training made me acutely aware of the gaps in my upbriniging. Why do we not encourage our girls to take up a sport, to build muscle, to build stamina? Why do we protect them from the outdoors for fear of “ruining” their complexion? Sure a strong body and fit mind are more to be coveted than fair skin.”

“Often the girls would be unhappy with the police uniform. ‘why should we wear the men’s uniform, Maam, ? Why can’t we have something more comfortable, more suitable for us?” It is true that the uniform is designed for a man. Yet, I feel that there should not be any difference in uniform because to me the uniform is the big equaliser. “the moment we start wearing a different uniform, others will perceive us differently,’ I would tell the girls. When you are breaking into a male bastion, you must first blend in, before standing out. I hope that one day there will be so many women IPS officers that they will stop being an aberration.”

“The transfiguration of anger is a movement from rage to outrage. Rage implies an internalized emotion, a tempest within, Rage, or what might be called untrasnfigured anger, can become a calcified bitterness. What rage wants and needs is to move outward toward positive social purpose, to become a creative force or energy… Outrage is love’s wild and unacknowledged sister.”