https://peertube.martiabernathey.com/videos/watch/201848d3-8fb5-4893-bde3-4c9a39fc2292 Noam Chomsky’s concept of justifiable hierarchies offers crucial insight into a problem plaguing contemporary discourse: the elevation of feelings over expertise. As a radiographer, I understand how theory and practice inform one another—getting a quality x-ray consistently requires deep anatomical knowledge, understanding of what constitutes quality imaging, and muscle memory developed through informed practice, not just chance. This principle extends across every profession; expertise matters, which is why we establish qualifications and standards. But our current vibes-based culture substitutes feelings for knowledge across the political spectrum—the right dismisses academic consensus on trans issues based on “common sense,” while the left sometimes overextends identity politics to argue that people like Niles can’t speak authoritatively on feminism because of their identity rather than evaluating the quality of their theoretical analysis. When I criticize Andrea Dworkin, it’s because her theory demonstrably harms s workers through frameworks like the Nordic Model; when I criticize Janice Raymond, it’s because her theories about trans women have caused immeasurable harm to trans people. It’s no coincidence that both collaborated with right-wing Republicans—Dworkin on anti-pornography legislation, Raymond with Jesse Helms—because when theory harms marginalized people and supports oppressive systems, it reveals fundamental flaws regardless of the author’s identity. People who understand theory should be allowed to voice authoritative criticism even if they’re not part of the oppressed community in question, because what matters is whether theory holds up under scrutiny and produces liberatory outcomes. Justifiable hierarchies based on expertise aren’t oppressive structures to tear down—they’re necessary frameworks for achieving excellence and actually dismantling oppression rather than reinforcing it through well-intentioned but harmful theories. #ExpertiseMatters #TheoryAndPraxis #JustifiableHierarchies #BeyondVibesPolitics #LiberationNotOppression Sat, 13 Jun 2026 12:55:47 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://peertube.martiabernathey.com https://peertube.martiabernathey.com/lazy-static/avatars/50716b50-414f-402a-89da-55c7e7882f4d.jpg https://peertube.martiabernathey.com/videos/watch/201848d3-8fb5-4893-bde3-4c9a39fc2292 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://peertube.martiabernathey.com/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.