Power from "summary" of The Disordered Cosmos by Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Power is not just about who has control over resources, like money or land. It's about who gets to define what is normal, what is valid knowledge, what is beautiful, what is valuable. It's about who gets to make the rules, who gets to be included, who gets to be excluded. Power shapes our understanding of the world, our understanding of ourselves. It determines who gets to speak and who gets listened to, who gets to be seen as an expert and who gets dismissed as uninformed or irrational. The exercise of power often involves creating and maintaining hierarchies, where some people are seen as more important, more deserving, more intelligent than others. These hierarchies are not natural or inevitable; they are constructed and maintained through systems of oppression. Power operates at multiple levels, from intimate personal interactions to institutional structures and societal norms. It can be subtle and insidious, or blatant and violent. Those who hold power often use it to maintain their position and suppress dissent. They create narratives that justify their privilege and marginalize those who challenge the status quo. They define what is considered valuable knowledge, what is considered valid science, what is considered beautiful or worthy of study. They reinforce stereotypes and prejudices that justify inequality and discrimination. Understanding power is essential for dismantling systems of oppression and creating a more just and equitable society. It requires recognizing how power operates in different contexts, how it shapes our perceptions and experiences, and how it can be used to resist and challenge injustice. By examining our own positionality and privilege, we can work towards a more inclusive and equitable world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
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