What is the effectiveness of the Safety Pin trend?

Question

Purely opinion based discussion.

So lately on social media I've seen people promoting the act of wearing a Safety Pin to show people from minority groups that they're their allies, and that they have a safe space with them. (This promotion seems to have started since Trump was elected so I think it's a US centric thing.)

Here's an example:

So I'm just wondering, if you're from a minority group, do you think it's effective for people to wear Safety Pins to show they're an Ally? Would you feel like you were safe around them? Or is this more beneficial to allies themselves instead?

Answer

Hey Rogue!! 😘😘😘

So personally I feel like many White people were very surprised at how racist their fellow White people are. So they're making the safety pin into a "not all White people!" badge.

Do I think it makes a difference? I don't know.  But continue to rock it if you feel it helps. I hope the pin also means you're committed to having a conversation with your Uncle Chad at Thanksgiving about systemic racism. Otherwise it's an empty gesture that only results in holes in your clothes.

Answer

So apparently white supremacist users from reddit made a post about this. I think they're planning on wearing the pin in hopes of minorities and women approaching them so they can harass them. Be careful.

Answer

This is a good question Rogue I'm looking forward to reading others responses.

I feel like most things like this contain an element of self congratulatory back patting. Liberals should always be checking ourselves on this anyway.

I still pinned one on. I don't know if it will make a difference, but I feel like if it makes even one person feel safer or even just a little encouraged then it's done it's job.

I will say that I appreciate that there's no money making agenda behind it. Conversely, I wanted to buy a Standing Rock T-shirt, but couldn't find one where I was comfortable that the proceeds were going towards the activists, and don't get me started on breast cancer "awareness" swag.

As for on others wearing them, I'll share a personal story; I sent my mom this meme and asked her what she thought. She texted me back a pic of her wearing one with the caption Solidarity Forever. She's, 73 and grew up in an era before civil rights were even being discussed. Knowing that a straight white woman of her generation stands in solidarity with me, and those that I love makes a difference to me, and I hope it will to others too.

Answer

I honestly think it's kind of dumb. If you're an ally I'd hope that can be identifiable by your words and actions.

Answer

If a safety pin is all you can do, I suppose that's... Nice.

However actions are more reliable than cheap baubles, any day.

Answer

This is my first time hearing about this, and although it sounds like a good idea in theory, I personally probably would not wear it or approach someone wearing it. Maybe I would if I still worked in retail, or any other type of job that involved working with people, but not outside of work. I'm not really a fan of strangers approaching me and vise versa. I really do like the idea, though.

Answer

I've also been wondering this, thanks for posting the topic. As a side note, I read that it started in the U.K. after brexit.

What is the effectiveness of the Safety Pin trend?

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