"victim mentality"

[firecat]

fattypatties gives us a really good essay addressing the notion of "victim mentality" as applied to people who experience systemic discrimination. Excerpt:

I don’t think most people who suffer from stigma think of themselves as victims. They think of themselves as human beings. But when they act like human beings and stand up for themselves, they are dismissed as whining too much or blaming others for their problems.

I sometimes judge other people for causing themselves their own trouble, although I usually keep my mouth shut about it. This essay reminds me to consider what larger influences might be at work in such situations.