Life Chances

Some individuals have the idea that because we live in Canada everyone has an equal chance in life. In the Dean Spade – “Trans Politics on a Neoliberal Landscape” talk, he described how much of a difference there is between the opportunities a white, cis, straight person has over someone who falls outside of those labels. I really like that he pointed out that he used to be highly involved in the gay rights activism but that he has grown. The ability to think critically of your own work is rare. His comments about changing the law will not change the people is such an important point. The reaction in the United States when gay marriage was legalized was to move. Those people are not automatically accepting of all because the government decided it was the right thing to do. In the words of Macklemore “no law’s gonna change us, we have to change us”. Education is key, we need to keep sharing ideas and opinions in order to open people’s minds and change their ideas. I think this generation in university is going to make huge changes for the better.

The increased or decreased life chances is what I have a hard time explaining to people when we get into an argument. That we were not all born equal. That if two people put in the same amount of work they would not end up in the same spot due to who they know, what they look like and where they started. It is not ok that the life expectancy for some individuals are automatically less because of who they are. The argument (from my father) is that “the opportunities are out there, it is their own decision to not act on it or work harder to get themselves out of their high risk lifestyles.” Great opinion Dad, too bad you know nothing about how hard they are working just to survive. The neoliberal attitude in our society today is leaving the vulnerable to die. If they are not able to keep up with the ridiculous pace the world is running at right now they should not be successful, is the current attitude. In school we are teaching kids to share, listen to each other and have compassion and understanding for others but the adults have created a cut throat, every person for themselves way of life. I will not disagree with the argument that there are programs out there but there are not enough and they have an absurd amount of hoops. Trying to find and keep a job when you do not have a home to keep your belongings, shower and sleep in is near impossible. Getting and keeping a place to live when you do not have a job to pay for it is actually impossible. “Just try harder” is not helping anyone.