Organizations and Disrespect

Disrespect is felt as humiliation. Humiliation is the violent or aggressive assertion of hierarchy. It is putting someone in their place, a place below the humiliator. Much violence, both that directed outwardly onto others and that directed inward onto ourselves, is a direct product of humiliation.

Organizations and Disrespect

Attitudes of disrespect can be displayed by organizations in their policies and procedures as well, not just individuals.

Organizations often agree to divide areas up among themselves to provide more “efficiency”. When these divisions also map onto existing political or identity group or conflict lines, the organizations can be seen to be taking a side. This often looks to people as though the organizations are participating in the political competition.

Organizational operating principles can emphasize competition in some areas. Efforts to secure funding are often explicitly described as competitive. This attitude can seep out into other areas of an organization, such as around efforts to secure “good press”, and into relationships with communities.

Some organizations mandate that international and local staff interact in certain ways. In some cases, there are clear physical barriers. Local staff on the ground floor and international staff on the floor above. Drivers not allowed to pass a certain point in a compound.

Organizational policies on security can be perceived as disrespect. In some situations, international staff of organizations have been prevented from interacting with local people altogether! This shows indifference and leads to backlash.

All of these demonstrate the dividing mindset.

Finally, though this is seldom mandated by an organization’s policies or procedures, responding aggressively and belligerently to challenges by communities, colleagues, donors, or the press also emphasizes the dividing mindset.

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