Our generation is facing an epidemic, a cultural epidemic…something that I’ve termed “competitive oppression.”

In my opinion, this is a direct result of the Tumblr culture (for those who don’t know, Tumblr is a social media site/phone app that allows users to create and repost various images and phrases). Tumblr, inevitably, has become quite political since its creation – specifically honing in on social justice causes.

The Tumblr culture, and more specifically what the “social justice Tumblrers” post, promotes the idea that in order to be moral, you must be oppressed. If you’re a white, heterosexual, cisgender male…you’re out of luck. You’ve already been branded as “the scum of the Earth.”

Above is an actual chart found on a Tumblr blog. If you get nothing else from this post, you can now calculate how “oppressed” you are!

Our generation feeds off this Tumblr culture, young people desiring to feel like they face the most unique set of challenges due to their ethnicity, race, sexuality, or gender. Because the more oppressed you are, the better, right? I think it goes without saying that this is a toxic competition.

Activism is meant to inspire change, not to reinforce this idea that you’re indescribably different from other people.

Yet recently, many self-acclaimed social media “activists” have been posting tidbits, spreading awareness of political and social issues, but only in order to promote the idea that their group is severely oppressed and therefore warrants some kind of merit/acknowledgement.

Hence, our generation suffers from “competitive oppression.”

This is a post from a Tumblr user is upset at “ace people” (asexuals) who supposedly demand attention because they are marginalized and thus, oppressed. Apparently, in the Tumblr culture, it is sinful to suggest that you are oppressed when “more oppressed” people exist.

This concept, however, is a roadblock to implementing change. If you’re reinforcing the idea that you are oppressed and are therefore better than a “less-oppressed” person, you’re not really promoting equality.

Obviously every group faces a unique set of issues in gaining equal rights, but the more various groups separate themselves from everyone else, the more they prevent true equality.

It creates a double-edged sword when you simultaneously promote the idea that you’re somehow different (or even better) but demand to be accepted as an equal. By having segregated activist and social justice movements, with people like blacktivists, LGBTQ+ activists, feminists…etc, you’re separating yourself from the larger human picture. If your message is that you’re equal to everyone else and deserve the same rights and social mobility…does it really make sense to completely isolate your group?

Does it really matter who “the biggest victim” is or should we be focusing on overall equality?

Okay, so I know there might be some dissent there. I mean, don’t you need your rights obtained for your specific group? Isn’t that the point of targeted (or segregated) activism in the first place? To help that group of people receive the rights that they don’t have?

So, yes. It’s definitely not a problem for LGBTQ+ activists to focus on marriage laws and blacktivists to focus on eliminating racial prejudice within Stop-and-Frisk. There are issues that exist that only pertain to certain groups and I’m not arguing that these targeted movements shouldn’t be fighting those issues.

The above Tumblr post points out a flaw in our generation’s views on oppression.

But, on the other hand, an issue arises when groups start “activism” or “awareness” campaigns that don’t have solid foundations about “what” is wrong. When there’s no direct objective or relevant issue within a group, they’re really just promoting a message of equality. Yet, oftentimes a group will simultaneously promote how oppressed and inherently moral they are, resulting in them locking themselves in a box. A secluded box, separate from society.

I suggest we open that box.

If your goal is to create a society in which everyone is equally treated and equally valued, don’t put yourself in the “oppressed and morally pure” box. Open the box. Work towards creating a society in which everyone is seen as socially and politically equal, not just the historically oppressed people. Create equality, not segregation. That’s what activism should be about.