Currently, I’m a high school student who has recently heard news of many state and even private colleges creating “safe spaces” for people who are feeling too challenged by differing opinions and running into these “safe spaces” for cover, caressed by their dean and other soldiers of misfortune. In this case, why do you think the students who use “safe spaces” in college even went to college for? Why did they think that their opinions would be heard only by other people holding the same opinions? Or, if you, in fact, agree with the concept of “safe spaces”, why? What benefits do they have for those inside?
I don’t know about you, but like many people, I’m going to college so that I can get a job. I have no idea what safe spaces or lack thereof have to do with that.
I’ve heard a lot of discussion about “safe spaces” recently. I might be fundamentally misunderstanding the concept, but I don’t see what the big deal is. They’re just rooms, right? How are they different from single dorm rooms where you can lock the door and shut out the world for a while?
“Safe spaces,” from my understanding, are designated areas or groups where students of marginalized/non-majority groups can discuss their feelings and express their identity openly without fear of discrimination, harrassment, or judgement. There are some “opinions” that are not only unwanted, but are hateful and unnecessary.
Safe spaces foster dialogue that wouldn’t naturally occur in a different setting; it isn’t that students of marginalized groups don’t like to hear dissenting views but rather they likely never experience times where they can express their own views without backlash.
Also safe spaces are hardly a new concept (my high school had them and that was over 10 years ago). Any school with a student group aimed at any minority group (race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, etc) has created safe spaces.
A new concept to me, though my male-dominated UG college did have a lounge that could only be accessed by women- a safe place in the center of campus where one could take a break or study in peace.
The first place I went with the title of this post was that it maybe was a reaction to the Concealed Carry on campus legislation in Texas. If people can wander campus with loaded hidden weapons, maybe there should be a few bullet-proof bunkers sprinkled around where students can take cover if things get out of hand?
Or, places to hide when you decide to go see Christina Hoff Sommers (aka “Based Mom”, “The Factual Feminist”, and the developer of “Freedom Feminism”) speak and can’t handle what she’s saying. Of course, you were only there to hold up a sign protesting the fact she was allowed to speak at all, despite a sound logic and basis for her speech and the fact that a campus organization had invited her to be there to speak.
I’m using a non-specific you and am not necessarily addressing the person quoted.
You will notice there is no mention of men or ever a usage of the gender neutral “people.” Curves was created as a safe space for women to work out without men present and focus on women’s fitness.
It’s also ironic that safe spaces are viewed as the creation of feminists when they predate the feminist movement by centuries. Gentleman’s clubs of 18th century Britain were created specifically as a safe space for wealthy men.
@BowlerGuile I was a little “meh” about safe spaces too, because I do feel like people should be exposed to different opinions. But safe spaces aren’t just a place for people to bounce political and intellectual ideas off each other, and complain about everyone who disagrees. It’s more personal than that.
Safe spaces provide people with a support system that they might not get anywhere else. If you reject safe spaces, then you also think that people shouldn’t be able to talk to their parents, friends, counselors, etc. when they’re in a stressful situation or when something has made them upset.
The thing is though, some people have more problems than just a bad grade on an exam or boyfriend/girlfriend issues. Some people face discrimination daily, or struggle with things like balancing prayer life and class, trying to keep up with work when going through depression, etc. And how are you going to get advice on being a Sikh in college from your nonreligious friends, or your parents who aren’t college students? So safe spaces are places where similar people (in terms of identity; I’m sure these people are very different in many other ways) can gather without having to worry about being judged, misunderstood, having to explain things to people, etc.
It’s very idealistic to think that we are all capable of being so resilient and self-confident that we can all deal with our own problems by ourselves. In reality, college is a whole different ballgame than high school. There’s so much more to worry about than just grades and friends. You will end up creating and utilizing safe spaces in college. You just have the privilege of being around people who have similar beliefs and issues, so pretty much the whole institution can be your safe space.
Trust me when I say that I would never create a safe space in college. I plan to attend MIT on the basis of learning, and I’m sure many go to college to learn. I can understand if people need a place to talk stuff out and cool off, but that’s not the safe space I’m even talking about. I’m talking about those “safe spaces” that allow only the circulation of shared ideas and not differential views. The differential views are considered homophobic or sexist or transatlantic or whatever buzz word these people like to use. And by these people, I mean SJWs and Muslims. You may think I’m being religionist, but no. Take a look at this article http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/apr/13/rensselaer-polytechnic-institute-postpones-america/ . Now everyone in these “safe spaces” now want every damn thing to be a safe space. To me, it’s very sickening. Essentially, ideas are not allowed, except their own, and and opposing opinions or debates can’t be had because it’s causing microagression or transagression or some new buzzwords.