In this 2015 HuffPo interview, Mike says, “Victory blindness is …a term I use to describe the phenomenon in which we focus on the wins, so starved for validation, that we allow them to blind us to the continued bigotry we face. We become enthralled, intoxicated — spellbound by even a little bit. The effect is that it obscures our reality — literally our vision — and it makes us lose our gumption, not wanting to rock the boat, fearful that we’ll lose what we’ve gained and not get what little bit we think we need, when in fact we need a lot and we should be strong and confident knowing our allies will stay with us.”
I would add that engaging in victory blindness often leads to great surprise and disappointment when there is the inevitable backlash. Signorile was speaking specifically about LGBTQ rights. After the victory of marriage equality being confirmed by the Supreme Court comes a county clerk in Kentucky who refuses to issue some marriage licenses, e.g.
More recently, the US attorney general was asked if federal workers blatantly discriminate against LGBTQ people. Jeff Sessions wasn’t sure.
I think America suffered victory blindness in another arena, BIG TIME, when it elected Barack Obama. Racism is solved! We’re in a “post-racial” society! That did not quite turn out to be the case.
I suspect that the optimism following the November 2017 not-evil election results won’t lead to overconfidence. The battle against bigotry and inequality continues. Perhaps November 8 will, in someone’s words, empower and excite, not satisfy and placate.
Still, I was oddly pleased to see the so-called One Million Moms announce a Disney boycott over a gay character. My family happens to watch Andi Mack regularly, and the one boy’s feeling of jealousy that his male friend is interested in the girl who’s the title character rather than himself is just a small part of the texture of the series. The boycott seems to have had little impact on the enthusiastic fan base of the program.
For ABC Wednesday
“Been down so long,” wrote Richard Fariña, “it seems like up to me.” Something like that, I suspect, is at the heart of Victory Blindness.
(Okay, I slightly misremembered. For “seems,” read “looks.”)
I heard that line, but it was from a rockin’ blues version.
I haven’t heard of this term before. Thanks for the education.
My ABC WEDNESDAY
Victory blindness is a new term to me. But I guess it happens in several countries. In India too.
Well thought…and somewhat of an eyeopener to… I guess for many people.
Have a ♥-warming ABC-Wednes-day / – week
♫ M e l ☺ d y ♫ (ABC-W-team)
http://melodymusic.nl/21-v
I wonder if we will ever learn ~ Your post is ‘spot on’ as the British say ~ sad but true ~ creative post and very meaningful for V ~ thanks,
Happy Week to you,
A ShutterBug Explores,
(aka, A Creative Harbor
Interesting term.
Victory blindness is intense among opposition groups in my country.
Seems to me that someone experiencing victory blindness does not even try to follow current events.
I’ve never heard that term but it certainly applies to many situations. Great post once again Roger.
This is a new term for me, but the concept is very familiar. – Margy