Power or Powerless?

When two people interact, there is always a disparity in power, meaning one person is, to some degree, more vulnerable. The values we develop concerning vulnerability help us to compensate for this difference by limiting the actions of the more powerful person, particularly if the less vulnerable person falls into one of these categories:

Children: Who are smaller, innocent and understand less.

Elderly: Who are physically frail and may be cognitively fading.

Disabled: Who have particular physical or mental difficulties.

Women: Who are physically weaker than men.

Religious: Who are from minority belief groups.

Ethnic minority: Who are from minority and oppressed races.

Sexual minority: Including homosexual and transgender people.

And to varying degrees:

Destitute: Those who have no money or home.

Weaker: Those who are not disabled but who are shorter, weaker and otherwise less able to defend themselves physically.

Outcasts: Those who are reviled for some aspect of their person.

Minorities: Any small group within a bigger group.

Victims: Who have suffered at the hands of others.

Confused: Who temporarily do not have their full mental facilities to hand.

Strangers: Who do not know local places and customs.

Powerless: Who lack the ability to defend themselves or get what they need.

In other words, vulnerability is related to two major factors: weakness and difference. Weak people can be taken advantage of by those with more power. Those who are different in some way are more likely to be rejected by groups who are composed on grounds of similarity.

It should not surprise us that there are significant laws and policies to protect the vulnerable. In organizations, this includes protection for employees who may be harassed by those in power above them. In public, a key law is that people must not physically attack one another.

The first vulnerability value, to 'do no harm' is relatively easy to comply with, as it is a passive act that only requires self-control.

The second vulnerability value, to 'actively help' can be harder as it takes time and may lead to embarrassment or even putting ourselves in harm's way to protect the vulnerable. 

 

 While we may instinctively do this for our own family, it can be a difficult choice to do the same for a stranger. 

There is a danger that vulnerable people who understand this value may take excessive advantage of it, trying to force others to help them when they could perhaps be more independent and do things for themselves. Children, for example, naturally appeal to the 'nurturing parent' in adults for help, even when the child is older. Other groups may also play to their weakness, even to the point of being explicit about this ('You can't touch me, I'm ...'). This seems selfish as witnesses to this abuse of rights may be motivated to avoid helping other vulnerable people in the future.

Sometimes people play at being vulnerable in order to get attention and support. This is a part of a victim mentality, where people say 'Help me, I'm being hurt and am unable to help myself'. Separating true victims from those who precipitate their situation can be difficult, especially when such people do this unconsciously, driven perhaps by inner pain.

What are we to make of all this?

If you are one of the truly vulnerable, ask for support rather than hoping someone will help. Values will force others to give you the assistance you need. It can also help to band together with other vulnerable people.

If you have power, beware of using this to harm vulnerable people in any way as this may result in a wider majority criticizing you for your abuse.

If you are in a place of influence, then be particularly careful with vulnerable groups and individuals. It is easy for what seems like a normal credible approach to appear as taking advantage of the vulnerable person and, in turn, result in you being socially punished. 

TJ