The Danish health minister should “get on a plane and visit” some of the thousands of women thought to be living with the consequences of being forcibly fitted with the contraceptive coil as children, Greenland’s gender equality minister has said.

In an attempt to reduce the population of the former Danish colony, at least 4,500 women and girls are believed to have undergone the medical procedure, usually without their consent or knowledge, at the hands of Danish doctors between 1966 and 1970 alone.

The total number of those affected by the procedures, thought to have continued for decades, is understood to be far higher. Victims and their lawyers say generations of Inuit women were left traumatised and suffering reproductive complications, including infertility, as a result of the Danish state’s policy.

Earlier this month, a group of 143 women sued the Danish state over the alleged violations, but they have yet to receive a response from the government, despite the Danish prime minister visiting Greenland – now an autonomous territory of Denmark – soon after.

  • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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    -49 months ago

    Can people nowadays state an opinion without being racist?

    Expressions like “a very white way of thinking” and “sounds about white” aren’t racist. They’re not about race at all, they’re about privilege.

    It’s basically using “white” as a shorthand for “privileged people not aware of their own privilege or the challenges of others, many of whom are white”.

    Other than that the story is horrible. It won’t fix the problem for many (most?) of them, but I hope they get as much money as they can by suing the government.

    Speaking as a Dane, I agree almost 100%. Our government treated inuits absolutely atrociously in the bad old days and it’s caused immense harm. They deserve to get reparations without having to go through the hassle of a lawsuit first.

    • PugJesus
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      69 months ago

      It’s basically using “white” as a shorthand for “privileged people not aware of their own privilege or the challenges of others, many of whom are white”.

      So you could conceivably call someone who is Black but otherwise belonging to privileged groups ‘white’?

      Check, please!

      • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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        -29 months ago

        You could call out someone who is black but otherwise privileged for acting very white, yes.

        Clarence Thomas comes to mind, for example.

        • PugJesus
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          49 months ago

          White is when bad, and the more bad it is, the more white they are.

          Great.

          • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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            -39 months ago

            Nope, that’s not at all what I’m saying.

            Because white people are inherently privileged and the most unaware privileged people are white, that’s the expression for acting oblivious to your own privilege and the obstacles and other hardships of people without your privilege.

            • PugJesus
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              59 months ago

              Normal racists, they’re shitheads. Who the fuck gives a fuck about them. But people like you, joyfully, innocently, self-righteously denigrating people because of what race they are or partially are, because they’re ‘privileged’, and therefore who gives a shit about them? Immensely frustrating.

              If you applied that kind of standard to literally any other fucking racial category and negative qualifier, you’d call it out as horrifically racist, and rightly so.

              • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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                -19 months ago

                people like you, joyfully, innocently, self-righteously denigrating people because of what race they are or partially are

                Nope. I have been abundantly clear from the start that it’s about the BEHAVIOR and LACK OF AWARENESS of some people, not the color of their skin.

                because they’re ‘privileged’, and therefore who gives a shit about them

                Another ridiculous strawman. I have pointed out that I myself am privileged. You might consider it unwarranted, given your ridiculous crusade to misrepresent everything I sa, but I very much DO give a shit about myself and many others who are privileged but aren’t asses about it.

                Immensely frustrating.

                Yes, your lack of comprehension and/or bad faith sure is.

                If you applied that kind of standard to literally any other fucking racial category and negative qualifier, you’d call it out as horrifically racist, and rightly so.

                Except I keep pointing out that I’m NOT talking about all white people. White people like myself didn’t CHOOSE to be born privileged, but we DO choose whether to acknowledge that privilege and the lack of privilege of others rather than throwing a tantrum about imagined racism.

                • PugJesus
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                  9 months ago

                  Nope. I have been abundantly clear from the start that it’s about the BEHAVIOR and LACK OF AWARENESS of some people, not the color of their skin.

                  … by using the term ‘white’ in the racial sense to denigrate those people.

                  If you called someone who was white ‘Black’ “because they were acting like a thug”, and objected that it was BEHAVIOR you were talking about, not skin color, would that be any less fucking racist?

                  The answer is “No”

                  Why don’t we skip ahead to the end and have you call me a cracker? I’ve been through this song and dance before. It’s funny - the emphasis is always on listening to the experiences of minorities until someone who’s mixed-race comes along, then suddenly all of these supposedly liberal people become white saviors who are the arbiters what is and is not offensive.

                  • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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                    19 months ago

                    by using the term ‘white’ in the racial sense to denigrate those people.

                    Nope. Sometimes words have different meanings and connotations than just the literal one. This is one of those times.

                    ‘Black’ "because they were acting like a thug

                    See, THAT’S a racist as fuck dog whistle. Using “white” as a shorthand for “specific privileged people who are behaving badly” to criticise those specific people for their behavior isn’t.

                    Why don’t we skip ahead to the end and have you call me a cracker

                    Fuck off with that rice paper skin bullshit.

                    the emphasis is always on listening to the experiences of minorities

                    Which there is a general lack of

                    until someone who’s mixed-race comes along, then suddenly all of these supposedly liberal people become white saviors who are the arbiters what is and is not offensive.

                    Nope. What the fuck are you babbling about? Sounds like you have a specific situation in mind that does not at all apply here.

                • PugJesus
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                  09 months ago

                  “Black is not a race. It describes people of mostly African ancestry. So be specific.”

                  • @WanderingVentra@lemm.ee
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                    19 months ago

                    Black was forced into being a race by the concept of whiteness. It’s evolved tok have its own culture and everything.

              • @Excrubulent@slrpnk.net
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                -29 months ago

                It’s almost like white is literally different to all those other racial categories.

                White is an exclusionary concept. If someone is half black, half asian or half hispanic, then they are typically treated by society as non-white unless they are white-passing, and even then their treatment will change as soon as their family is included in the picture. They are not considered non-black, non-asian or non-hispanic.

                It’s easy to say that you would consider them half/half, but that’s just not what they experience in the world outside this comment thread, so it’s meaningless.

                • PugJesus
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                  9 months ago

                  White is an exclusionary concept. If someone is half black, half asian or half hispanic, then they are typically treated by society as non-white unless they are white-passing, and even then their treatment will change as soon as their family is included in the picture. They are not considered non-black, non-asian or non-hispanic.

                  Are you fucking kidding me

                  This is not even close to true.

                  Any time anyone wants to fuck with you, they get to say you aren’t white or non-white enough for whatever the fuck is going on at the moment.

                  It’s easy to say that you would consider them half/half, but that’s just not what they experience in the world outside this comment thread, so it’s meaningless.

                  Thank you for informing me about the experiences of my life and many other mixed-race individuals; what would I do without someone to tell me what I REALLY experience?

                  White people generally hear racism from other white people. But there’s a whole fucking world of racism out there, and “Mixed race people only suffer because they’re non-white!” is fucking ignorant of the facts on the ground.

                  • @Excrubulent@slrpnk.net
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                    -19 months ago

                    It’s telling that the only real example of so-called anti-white racism that anyone can come up with is about someone who is mixed-race experiencing discrimination from their family.

                    It sucks and I’m sorry that happens to you, but it’s not anti-white. It’s another form of racism that only affects non-white people. Just because it comes from non-white people doesn’t make it anti-white.

                • Rikudou_SageA
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                  39 months ago

                  It’s almost like white is literally different to all those other racial categories.

                  Holy shit, how do you not see the racism in that statement?

    • Rikudou_SageA
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      9 months ago

      Oh, that’s nonsense. Sure, what might be underneath is about privilege, but, you know, being white myself I haven’t had much privilege. Because my family was on the extremely poor side of things.

      Sure, being in Europe in itself is a privilege, but that goes for black/asian/other people living in Europe as well. Other than that, I’m as white as they come, but I didn’t have any privilege, except those I fought hard for. Turns out privilege doesn’t have much with skin color, but is caused by capital and money.

      So, it’s the same as treating all black people as criminals, to dig out another stereotype. Sure, there are statistical reasons to say that (as are for the so-called white privilege), but it’s incredibly racist to treat black people as criminals by default (as is attributing shortcomings of the privileged to white people). Believe me, most white people I knew growing up weren’t what you’d call privileged.

      I don’t think I ask for too much when I don’t want people to use my skin color to mean something bad, do I? Like, have we learned nothing? It’s frankly disgusting that racism against me is allowed because it’s socially acceptable. Racism against black people and Jewish people used to be socially acceptable, too. And I for one really dislike racism because it’s stupid and I don’t particularly care which group you’re being racist to.

      To chronic downvoters: If you only downvote without providing your thoughts on the topic, your opinion on this topic is as important as my dog’s.

      They deserve to get reparations without having to go through the hassle of a lawsuit first.

      That would be nice, but what government wants to pay for their mistakes?

      • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        being white myself I haven’t had much privilege.

        You’re still more privileged than you would be if you weren’t white. And I say that as someone who hasn’t had an easy life either, but would have a much harder one if I hadn’t been lucky enough to be born a cishet white male in a rich and somewhat well-functioning country.

        being in Europe in itself is a privilege, but that goes for black/asian/other people living in Europe as well.

        To a MUCH lesser degree, though. They experience hardships that we don’t because they don’t have our privilege of having the only skin color that isn’t discriminated against in Europe

        I’m as white as they come, but I didn’t have any privilege

        Again, not how it works. Having privilege isn’t a binary of either playing on easy mode with all privileges or not being privileged at all.

        A rich and powerful person with the same skin color, gender, sexuality and nationality as me but no disabilities is MUCH more privileged than I am, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have any privilege.

        except those I fought hard for

        Again, having privilege ≠ everything being easy.

        Turns out privilege doesn’t have much with skin color, but is caused by capital and money.

        Again with the false dichotomy of everyone being either extremely privileged or not privileged at all 🤦

        So, it’s the same as treating all black people as criminals

        Whoa, wtf?? It absolutely is NOT! That’s a BIZARRE comparison!

        Sure, there are statistical reasons to say that

        From the cops who consistently target people of color more. Black people aren’t inherently more criminal than white people.

        White people ARE inherently more privileged in a society built by their ancestors to give them advantages at the cost of disadvantages for everyone else, though.

        it’s incredibly racist to treat black people as criminals by default

        And the 2024 “Well, Duh!” Award goes to…

        as is attributing shortcomings of the privileged to white people)

        No. Absolutely not.

        Believe me, most white people I knew growing up weren’t what you’d call privileged.

        If I took a shot every time you trotted out that false dichotomy, I’d be absolutely wasted by now.

        I don’t think I ask for too much when I don’t want people to use my skin color to mean something bad, do I

        Like it or not, your skin color gives you privilege. If you acknowledge your privilege and don’t abuse it, “sounds about white” and similar expressions aren’t about you and you have nothing to worry about on that account.

        Like, have we learned nothing?

        I couldn’t say about everyone, but it sure seems that YOU haven’t.

        It’s frankly disgusting that racism against me is allowed because it’s socially acceptable

        Again, not racism. It’s not about all white people.

        Racism against black people and Jewish people used to be socially acceptable, too.

        Now you’re going to bring jewish people into your ridiculous false analogy too? Ffs! Are you trying to start the oppression Olympics or something?

        Spoiler alert: we don’t medal in that sport.

        And I for one really dislike racism because it’s stupid

        So is pretending that calling out privilege and the lack of awareness thereof is racist.

        To chronic downvoters: If you only downvote without providing your thoughts on the topic, your opinion on this topic is as important as my dog’s.

        Sounds like your dog knows about as much about what privilege is or isn’t as you do. I bet your dog is much cuter too.

        what government wants to pay for their mistakes?

        The Danish one. Unlike certain other ones, it tends to be serious about dealing with its past atrocities and the effects they had on the victims.

          • @WanderingVentra@lemm.ee
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            9 months ago

            I can’t believe how many white people I see complaining about racism in a thread about Inuit people having forced infertility, ovarian cysts, bleeding, and more. This is pathetic lol. The most sensitive people in existence. Just acknowledging your privilege makes you all go into this weird state. This is why studying history and CRT is important. The Viking user is right. White is not a race, so they’re not being racist.

        • Rikudou_SageA
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          9 months ago

          Well, I’ve lost interest in a discussion with you, if you’re unable to discuss without saying stuff like And the 2024 “Well, Duh!” Award goes to, you’re not worth discussion.

          Edit: That was before I read the other personal jabs at me. Well, if you ever wonder why you can’t convince other people of your opinions, it’s this behaviour.

          • @Viking_Hippie@lemmy.world
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            19 months ago

            Sure, focus on how impolite it is for me to point out that you’re stating the blindingly obvious rather than at all consider my many valid counterpoints to your flurry of much more insulting accusations towards me and everyone else who use or even understand some very common expressions 🙄

            • Rikudou_SageA
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              29 months ago

              I usually don’t reply to the following messages, but I’m gonna make an exception, because it might help you in the future: Yes, I’m gonna ignore all your other points, because I have no interest in a discussion with someone who makes personal attacks at me. I’ve had some thoughts prepared to write down and discuss further until I reached the point where you made personal attacks.

              In short, you’re not worthy of my time - not because I disagree with your points, but because you had to go and make it personal.

              Anyway, this was truly the last message from me to you.