San Francisco teacher writes in op-ed: Bernie Sanders’ mittens a ‘lesson in white privilege’
A San Francisco high school teacher wrote an Op-ed claiming Sen. Bernie Sanders “manifests privilege” for wearing his meme-evoking inauguration outfit.
Ingrid Seyer-Ochi, a former UC Berkeley professor, wrote in the San Francisco Chronicle that the Vermont senator’s choice of recycled wool mittens mittens was integrated into her class discussion on US diversity and discrimination.
Initially, on Inauguration Day, Seyer-Ochi said her class talked about the deeper meanings of the historic day — including “the vulnerability of democracy” and “the power of ritual” and gender.
Sanders, the teacher said, was not even on their radar until he became an instant internet sensation over his mittens and brown parka.
“I puzzled and fumed as an individual as I strove to be my best possible teacher. What did I see? What did I think my students should see?” Seyer-Ochi wrote.
“A wealthy, incredibly well-educated and -privileged white man, showing up for perhaps the most important ritual of the decade, in a puffy jacket and huge mittens.”
The senator, she said, “manifests privilege, white privilege, male privilege and class privilege, in ways that my students could see and feel.”
Seyer-Ochi said in the op-ed that many people without privilege would not be able to dress like Sanders did on such an occasion.
“I don’t know many poor, or working class, or female, or struggling-to-be-taken-seriously folk who would show up at the inauguration of our 46th president dressed like Bernie,” she said.
The op-ed left many people on social media scratching their heads.
“So Bernie represents the terrible privilege of the white & rich because he *reads article* didn’t wear expensive clothes,” one commenter on Twitter wrote.
“Apparently it is privilege to dress comfortably and NOT privilege to wear expensive designer clothing while the media talks about ensembles like it’s a red carpet event,” another Twitter user commented.
A third person on Twitter wrote: “The only ‘privilege’ I see right now is being able to publish a bad faith opinion piece in a newspaper with a paywall,” one commenter on Twitter wrote. [Reply]
I’m wondering if it would be white privilege if Bernie showed up wearing a bow tie.
That’s kind of eccentric too.
I know a retired judge who always wears a bow tie. He’s from Mexico. White privilege. Because being different, expressing yourself as the old berkinstock wearing granola that you are is white privilege.
I have a feeling that 9 out of 10 of her students laugh at her as they hit the door.
Originally Posted by NinerDoug:
I’m wondering if it would be white privilege if Bernie showed up wearing a bow tie.
That’s kind of eccentric too.
I know a retired judge who always wears a bow tie. He’s from Mexico. White privilege. Because being different, expressing yourself as the old berkinstock wearing granola that you are is white privilege.
I have a feeling that 9 out of 10 of her students laugh at her as they hit the door.
The other 1, however, is concerning.
Meh, I bet it's higher than 1/10 taking her seriously. I'd say people taking that class are more like 7/10 walking out parroting her BS. They are young and most of those will grow out of it though. Maybe your number of 1/10 won't. [Reply]
Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider:
I saw that today and LOL'd thinking about how some of the LWNJ's around here would read that article unironically and think she was spot on.
I would guess not a single poster here thinks this is spot on. [Reply]
Originally Posted by NinerDoug:
I’m wondering if it would be white privilege if Bernie showed up wearing a bow tie.
That’s kind of eccentric too.
I know a retired judge who always wears a bow tie. He’s from Mexico. White privilege. Because being different, expressing yourself as the old berkinstock wearing granola that you are is white privilege.
I have a feeling that 9 out of 10 of her students laugh at her as they hit the door.
The other 1, however, is concerning.
Bow Tie Wednesday is a thing where I work.
Also, any server at Olive Garden can where a shirt and a tie. A true professional color matches the tie to the shirt to the colorful socks. [Reply]
Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider:
You drastically under estimate some of your fellow LWNJs. Loonguano and a couple of his buddies are all over this.
On day, you and the other mouth breathers, will figure out the so called liberals that live in your head aren't real. Maybe.
Originally Posted by lawrenceRaider:
You drastically under estimate some of your fellow LWNJs. Loonguano and a couple of his buddies are all over this.
I don't think so. You assume there are "left" equivalents of Taco, BEP, and about 15-20 other RW batshit crazy crackpots. There aren't. [Reply]