Set Them Up
When we observe someone who is building a hierarchy, our first response may be to jump right in and argue or educate. An alternative – which is often effective and even possibly entertaining – is to set them up. We call attention to offensive top-of-the-hierarchy behaviors and broadcast them to the most appropriate audience.
This move is similar to martial arts. A woman sees her opponent coming toward her. Instead of pushing against the other person, she accepts his energy, moves with it, and then deflects, thereby using her opponent's motion to her advantage.
To execute a set-up maneuver, we essentially watch the roles the top is displaying. But then, we mix up their assumptions about top and bottom rights and privileges. We appear to go along with what they are saying, but then create a situation that makes it difficult for their rhetoric or policies to proceed smoothly.
As an example, here is a true story from our local community college:
A creationist teaches at a community college. He places his biblical creation story in the Science Resource Center to be available alongside the curriculum about evolution. He claims a cause of fairness and inclusion.
Another faculty member decides to test out her suspicion of a hierarchy. She thinks that while he is claiming to have just another opinion, he really thinks that everyone needs to follow his religion. She knows that hierarchical Christians think their theology is superior to all others, and, therefore they have a right, or even obligation, to try to force their religion on everyone else.
The faculty member predicts that the creationist expects to be confronted and that a fight will ensue on his turf and on the terms that he has defined. The faculty member has no desire to get sucked into his battle.
Instead, she sends an email to the entire science department to say that she is willing to gather the creation stories of local American Indian tribes. She offers to put them into the same folder as the creationist teachings.
She knows that if the creationist puts his biblical story on top of a hierarchy, he will not want his version to be placed alongside other creation stories. His Christian story would be equally mixed in with, according to his doctrine, "inferior" (sinful or pagan, or heathen) views. She suspects it would be difficult for him to admit to the rest of his colleagues that he professes "the one true religion" if he were to insist that only his creation story is worthy of inclusion.
The next day, the creationist removes his pamphlets from the Science Resource Center, and the department never hears from him again.