Seeing the World Through Many Eyes: A System's Journey to Understanding Identity and Injustice
Navigating Positionality as a System: Understanding Race, Class, and Gender from Multiple Perspectives
Introduction: A Journey into System Work and Positionality
For much of my life, I felt like I was navigating a world that didn't quite make sense. I saw the big picture, saw people as whole beings, and couldn’t understand why others seemed so focused on dividing everyone into categories like race, class, and gender. I watched my non-white friends being treated differently, and it seemed so obviously unfair to me—why couldn’t everyone else see it too? The lack of awareness around these injustices was infuriating, and I often found myself speaking out, only to be met with confusion or resistance.
I first began to grasp these concepts more deeply during my addiction counseling courses, where I learned about systemic oppression and the power dynamics shaping our lives. It was like being handed a key that unlocked a new level of awareness. Suddenly, I could see the pervasive patterns of inequality and injustice that I had sensed but couldn't name before. I felt compelled to speak out against what I perceived as “bullshit” in these systems, but my blunt and direct approach often led to trouble. I lost jobs and strained relationships because I couldn’t temper my frustration or stay quiet when I saw something wrong.
It was only later, when I discovered I was autistic, that I began to understand why I experienced the world in such a different way. My neurodivergence explained my tendency to see things in patterns and wholes, my inability to filter out injustices, and my relentless need to speak out. But it was learning about myself as a system—a collection of different parts, each with its own unique perspective and way of engaging with the world—that truly changed everything.
Recognizing myself as a system opened up a new layer of understanding about how I navigate social constructs like race, class, and gender. I realized that my experience of positionality wasn’t singular or fixed; it was dynamic and layered, shaped by the interplay of different parts of myself. Each part of my system brought its own unique viewpoint to these social issues, often in ways that were both contradictory and interconnected.
This realization sparked a deeper curiosity: How do the different parts within me perceive and interact with constructs like race, class, and gender? How do they respond to injustices and complexities? How does my experience as a system offer both challenges and unique insights when engaging with these social dynamics?
What I’ve come to understand is that navigating positionality as a system means embracing complexity. It means recognizing that each part of me interacts with the world differently—sometimes clashing, sometimes complementing, always contributing to a fuller picture of who I am and how I relate to others.
In this article, I want to explore this journey more deeply—how each part of my system perceives and engages with social constructs like race, class, and gender, and what this means for my own understanding of positionality.
Understanding Positionality Through a System Lens
Positionality refers to the idea that our social identities—such as race, class, gender, and neurodivergence—shape our perspectives, experiences, and interactions with the world. For someone who identifies as a system, like myself, positionality isn’t just a matter of having one identity or viewpoint. It’s about recognizing the multiple, sometimes conflicting, perspectives that coexist within me, each influenced by different experiences and social contexts.
Each part of my system interacts with constructs like race, class, and gender in its own unique way. Here’s a closer look at how some of these parts engage with these social constructs:
Peyton (The Protector): Defending Against Injustice
Peyton is always on high alert, scanning for threats and ready to protect us from harm. When it comes to race, class, and gender, Peyton perceives these constructs in terms of safety and threat. Peyton is quick to call out injustices or discriminatory practices because they represent a danger—not just to us, but to others as well. For Peyton, these social constructs are systems that need to be challenged or dismantled, especially if they create harm or exclusion.
There have been times when Peyton’s voice has come through strongly—bluntly pointing out injustices without hesitation. Before I understood my neurodivergent identity, I often found myself in trouble for speaking out too directly, perceived as arrogant or rude. But Peyton’s drive to defend against perceived threats is an important part of who I am and how I navigate the world.
Ella (The Nurturer): Seeking Empathy and Connection
Ella experiences these social constructs more emotionally. As the nurturing part of my system, Ella feels deeply for those who are marginalized or harmed by societal structures. When it comes to race, class, and gender, Ella’s response is to build empathy and connection, seeking to understand the emotional impact on individuals and communities.
Ella wants to create spaces where people feel heard and supported. She may not be as confrontational as Peyton, but her role is just as crucial. Ella teaches me the importance of holding space for others and using empathy as a tool for social change.
Maximus (The Guardian): Ensuring Stability and Security
Maximus is concerned with maintaining stability and security. When he engages with constructs like race, class, and gender, he’s focused on how they impact the overall order of society and our personal sense of safety. Maximus analyzes how to navigate these social dynamics without destabilizing our sense of security.
This can sometimes mean taking a more measured approach to social justice, weighing the risks and potential consequences. Maximus reminds me that while speaking out is important, so is ensuring that we are safe and grounded in the process.
Phoenix (The Resilient): Transforming Adversity into Growth
Phoenix views these constructs as challenges to be overcome or transformed. She sees the adversity created by societal structures, but also the potential for growth and resilience within them. Phoenix engages with race, class, and gender by finding ways to adapt, rise above, and use these experiences as catalysts for personal or systemic change.
Phoenix represents my drive to transform pain into purpose. Her perspective allows me to see the potential for healing and growth even in the face of deep social inequities.
Kai (The Innovator): Questioning and Reimagining Constructs
Kai approaches these constructs with creativity and curiosity, exploring them through different lenses. Kai questions traditional narratives around race, class, and gender and seeks new ways to think about or engage with them. She encourages me to deconstruct, reimagine, and integrate these constructs into new, more inclusive paradigms.
Kai’s perspective invites innovation—asking how we might reframe or re-envision social constructs to make space for all kinds of experiences and identities.
Kaitlyn (The Innocent): Seeking Understanding and Validation
Kaitlyn experiences these constructs from a place of innocence and wonder. She may feel confused by the complexities and contradictions within race, class, and gender, especially when they clash with a simpler worldview. Kaitlyn asks questions and seeks clarity, feeling a longing for a world where these constructs do not create division or pain.
Kaitlyn’s curiosity helps me approach social constructs with an open mind, constantly seeking to understand rather than judge.
Shamani (The Guide): Connecting to a Higher Purpose
Shamani perceives race, class, and gender on a deeper, spiritual level. She considers these constructs part of a broader human experience, exploring their connections to themes of purpose, growth, and transformation. Shamani seeks to understand their spiritual implications, focusing on how they shape a person’s journey toward self-realization and collective harmony.
Shamani helps me find meaning in these social constructs and encourages me to think about how they fit into a larger picture of human connection and spiritual evolution.
Sher (The Integrator): Balancing and Harmonizing Perspectives
Sher works to ensure cohesion and balance within the system. She looks at how each part of me relates to social constructs like race, class, and gender and tries to integrate these perspectives into a more unified sense of self. Sher’s role is to hold all these diverse views and experiences in a way that supports overall well-being and harmony.
Sher reminds me that while it’s important to recognize the distinct ways each part perceives these constructs, it’s equally important to find balance and integrate these perspectives into a holistic understanding of my positionality.
Final Thoughts: Navigating Positionality as a System
Understanding my positionality as a system has been a journey of complexity and discovery. Each part of me engages with social constructs like race, class, and gender in its own way, contributing to a multifaceted perspective that is both insightful and challenging. Recognizing these internal dynamics allows me to navigate the world with a greater sense of awareness and authenticity.
Reflective Questions:
How do different parts of your system (if you are a system) or different aspects of your personality perceive and interact with social constructs?
What unique perspectives do they bring, and how do they contribute to your overall sense of positionality?
How can this understanding help you engage more effectively in conversations about social justice?
I’d love to hear your thoughts or experiences on this topic. Let’s continue the dialogue and explore these intersections together!