Does this make sense?

Feminism to me is a philosophy, not an identity the same sense of race or gender or sexual orientation. Feminist men are allies to women, but they are not “feminist allies,” just feminists.

I wouldn’t tell male feminists, or allies of other identities I associate with, that, because of their privilege alone, they can’t discuss or critique or give their input on ideas and concepts within each social justice area. It makes things trickier, certainly – they have to be a lot more careful to make sure they do understand the issues and assumptions influencing their own position. That they’re not speaking in place of others when they should be ensuring those others are getting heard directly. This is perhaps most important. And they’ll probably get some things wrong even then.

But I think that’s OK. Competence, high competence, but not perfection, is what I can reasonably ask for.

We’re all in this together; we’ve all be programmed by the same society, all fighting different aspects of the same thing, fighting the fact that it programmed us differently, unequally. If they’re aware and trying to continue to fight and change things, even if it’s just within themselves, I can’t blame them for creating or sustaining the system. They didn’t, and I don’t hold them accountable for the harm caused by others. They – we – can’t escape the privilege others give us if we want to continue to function within our society. To continue to fight to change it. Being part of the privileged group doesn’t make you incapable of having ideas, opinions, interpretations that are valuable; it just means you will have to try harder to get it. I don’t want to silence anyone who cares and may be able to help. And if they’re helping, then they’re not silencing me.