I watched the recent documentary on Jane Elliott's work in Canada, I also recall seeing long ago her work with children in the States and then the reunion when that group were adults.
My perspective on this I think differs here from Coz's, let's see if I can get this into words.
Elliott's confrontational work has an upfront purpose, to demonstrate the experience of targeted groups to those who are relatively privileged. This works from a “walk a mile in my shoes” principle. One group is purposefully bullied and challenged, mistreated, giving them a brief taste of what some folks experience daily.
There then is plenty of room for discussion, debriefing. Prejudiced attitudes and assumptions are analyzed and aired out.
The LGAT type actions used are [b:25655c808c]not[/b:25655c808c] presented as good, they are presented as examples of abuse. Elliott is clear that she is being a purposeful bitch during that stage of the work. She is an actor, she portrays the role of the abusive authority.
Does walking a mile in another’s shoes work? Can it open a window into someone else’s experience, someone who is seemingly wholly unlike us? To a degree it has aided me in learning about other folks immensely, other cultures and ways.
I don’t know the after effects of Elliott’s work, haven’t read up on it recently. I don’t know if some of the participants who were bullied find themselves closing down again, or if they are able to use what they learned to further their own growth and expand their compassion for other people.
Was intriguing to see in this recent documentary that the people in power found themselves not wanting to act it out abusively, they said they couldn’t do to others what is done to them daily. They had an opportunity to turn the tables, but found they mostly could not. Touching also to hear the direct experiences of First Nation peoples in Canada, their experience of racism and abuse.
I am curious how she screened this last batch of participants and if there is extensive follow up. And what if some participants find themselves even more close minded, more abusive themselves, because they did not understand the purpose of the exercise and instead have become even more entrenched?
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The point i am making is that these LGAT techniques are now widely known, and can be used for good or ill. Perhaps using them for racism awareness is useful, perhaps not.
But these are the SAME techniques used by Landmark, and everyone else to manipulate people.
I agree, it is fascinating to see that what is done in LGATs is done in abusive homes, workplaces........abuse is abuse is abuse. Landmark does it to manipulate and make money, it denies being abusive. Elliott does it in a limited dose to educate, money making not an issue, and she clearly states that she is being a bitch for a purpose for that session.
Landmark and other LGATs work to addict people to come back for more. Elliott's work looks to be about a one time taste of what it is like to walk in another's shoes, the hope then is that participants are able to continue their own education and observations in the world.
Thanks Coz for bringing the documentary up, lots of issues to discuss.
Sarah
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www.cbc.ca]
Worth reading her profile also.