I’m just going to say this:
Having “thick skin” might be the most overrated concept in the history of time.
It might not have sexist implications, but I’m beginning to hate it just as much as “man up.”
No matter how good their intentions, everyone who has ever said that someone should get “thick skin,” even some people whom I love very much (and maybe even myself at times in the past) has participated in the worst kind of victim-blaming.
You can let insults roll off your back? Well, good for you! Many of us cannot, especially if the insults are oppressive. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being emotionally sensitive or even vulnerable, and people who are naturally that way who try to repress themselves more often than not suffer extreme psychological turmoil as a result. I learned this the hard way.
In other words, until we live in a world safe for wimps—and that is no way an insult—nobody else is safe.
I agree so much. ;__;
People are always telling me “I’ve been through the same stuff you’ve been through and I’M okay!” (most specifically my aunt, who in fact has not been through the same stuff but she doesn’t know it because she doesn’t know that I’m queer and I’ve still not managed to “man up” and come out to my family yet)
And I’m like “GREAT! I’m happy for YOU auntie, but just because you could handle it better than I can doesn’t mean you can minimize my trauma and treat it like it doesn’t matter and that I should just ‘be tougher’”
so my mom always said (and still says) this to me in middle school. you know, when i was super depressed and needed help. so yeah. this bugs me.
(Source: hidden-agender)
