Empathy is a shared experience between two humans and everyone on the planet has the same right to express themselves.
It begins to be hurtful when somehow it starts to be suggested that as a parent theirs is a level of empathy that is superior to that of someone else who does not have children.
It also introduces a level of judgement that was not there before, empathy now becomes tainted and self serving with a sly eye, becoming something that is not a pure human emotion. One of the traits that is admirable in humans is reduced with conditions attached.
Does this now mean that if you do not have a “live” child at the exact time of empathy expression that your empathy is also inferior to others?
It is hurtful to think that as a person without children
My feelings of empathy are viewed being less worthy
I am left to feel that I have no voice, that I am silenced and diminished
I still feel isolated from Society after a long journey in coming to accept childlessness and loss
I feel inhibited from expressing views on child-focused subjects such as education, school provision, health care and others. Without children, why would my views be considered valid?
Excluded from displaying my empathy as I could not possibly understand
I have experienced loss and can empathise greatly but it is not valid enough
I have experienced the huge loss an of never being able to have my own child, of never being able to take pleasure in the satisfaction of raising a child, creating a family that I could belong to, something I wanted to do beyond all else.
I have strong feelings of empathy but it is now suggested that as I am not a parent I cannot emphasise in the right way, all this achieves is introducing a very narrow perspective into an increasingly divided world.
Empathy is a feeling which starts in your soul as you imagine what it might be like to have that problem, be in that persons shoes, make time to think about others it has the power for people to want to do good in the world and support others who are not as fortunate as ourselves. We should not be attaching our own judgements or conditions upon it.
I want to live in a world where everyones opinion and empathy is recognised and valued, in whatever situation life situation people find themselves in, why is one persons empathy not as valid as another.
I want to be part of a progressive world that values all people, sees the value of community considering everyones views and empathy, not one that continually looks inward excluding anyone that does not fit the mould dictated by Society.
My vision looks outward to the the future, we are moving to a more fractured world with huge threats such as climate change and political upheaval. We have to change the way think and consider all options not just waste time judging each others life situation.
Anon