Emotional Shelter

Essay Fragment against colonialist manipulation techniques in language and society by Oana Maroti

Big companies and individuals alike use colonialist manipulation techniques daily. Let's see 2 of them:

Gaslighting

While the term originated from a 1938 play about an abusive husband, the concept of cultural or structural gaslighting is highly relevant in colonial and historical contexts. Systemic Denial: Colonizers used denial, historical revisionism, and the active destruction of Indigenous cultures to make marginalized groups question their own lived experiences, knowledge, and memories. Power Dynamics: Just as in a personal relationship, structural gaslighting is used to maintain power and force the victim to rely on the perpetrator's version of reality.

Ghosting

Originating in the 2000s within digital dating, ghosting is defined as suddenly cutting off communication to avoid emotional discomfort. Lack of Accountability: Sociologically, ghosting reflects an individual's inability or unwillingness to take responsibility for another person's feelings. While not a deliberate "colonial" tool, it is a modern symptom of emotional detachment and avoidance.

In the case of companies recruiting, ghosting after interviewing is a totally non-inclusive approach, and I urge the workers' rights delegates at the international level to solve the issue, as it affects entire groups of populations. A ghosting reaction usually hides racism, ageism, and ableism.
Who gets detached and avoids? Not archaic community logic that's for sure.

Are you or your company using colonialist manipulation techniques? If yes, please note that such techniques are against human rights and an affront to the Strategy for Inclusion.