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Broadening minds at the click of a mouse Sometimes, we have questions we’re too afraid to ask. Completely innocent, but taken the wrong way they could lead to offence. This is where liberate yourself.co.uk comes in. Liberateyourself is an innovative new website designed by the UMSU to address the prejudice and ignorance prevalent in British society today. The site is divided into specific sections that address the different walks of life that experience discrimination. Speaking to Hannah Paterson, the Welfare Officer and the brains behind the idea, she told
The Mancunion about the mission of the website. “We want it to be a safe environment where you can explore issues you may never thought about before. It’s to fight ignorance and stigma but in a way that is really open. These issues are often talked about but in a way that makes people angry and it just turns into a heated debate. We want to remove the ignorance by answering questions some people might be afraid to ask in an open and frank way” The website is divided into five sections. They are categorized as: LGBTQ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer); Women; Disabled; Mental Health
and Black. Each section has much to explore and offer personal stories, links and resources for support groups, opportunities to get involved and a candid FAQs page. But who are the contributors? “Each section is taken by people who self-identify with that group. They’re mainly people who are heavily involved with campaigning and can provide an experienced voice,” Hannah says. So, if you ask why some Muslim women where a burka and others a hijab, the response you will get will be from somebody who can offer a first hand response. All questions are anonymous and can be sent either through the website or to the
section editor via e-mail. The personal experiences are genuine and thought provoking. Some detail problems with friends while others discuss the often-casual nature of discrimination. They’re completely anonymous, but offer a personal perspective and many really bring home the brutal effects of prejudice on people’s lives. A sixth section also is available to friends and relatives of those that suffer from bigotry or ignorance. Perhaps your best friend has come out to you and you want to know the best way to be supportive. Or maybe you’re nephew has been born with a disability that you don’t know much about. “We were getting stories that relate to people’s friends having problems and felt this needed a space. On the website there is really good support not just for those suffering, but for those wanting to help.” While still in progress, site creator Hannah is hopeful of the website continuing to evolve as more contributors come forward and more questions are asked. “You can get involved really easily. Either look at our Facebook group or you can find details on the homepage.” Though most of us would never consider ourselves bigots, this website, which is still in its early days, certainly educates its readers on the controversial debates surrounding discrimination in this country.
Here is a selection of anonymous testimonials from the site itself: “Knowing M.E., Knowing You (aha)” (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
“Should I tell them I was gay and face chaos?” (LGBTQ)
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
I have M.E. Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), it’s a much-misunderstood and much-maligned condition. I have good days and I have bad days, and today was a mediocre day. What I couldn’t do however was move without pain, or do any normal task without feeling extremely drained at the end of it. By normal tasks, I include having a shower, reading and paying a credit card bill, and making a sandwich.
When I first started uni at Manchester, I never ever considered joining the LGBT Society here. I was never fully out back home and found the idea of joining a bit intimidating. Instead, I quite happily sailed along through first year, but I still wasn’t very out about my sexuality. I never really thought about the gay village or the LGBT community at all. But that all changed when I went home for summer. My homophobic Mum and Dad sat me down and told me that they had started to think about arranging my marriage. My whole world fell apart!
I started my course in September 2010 after taking a gap year. I’ve suffered with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) for about 10 years.
On a bad day, I can’t move from bed. I’m in constant pain: ever get that feeling the day after the gym when you haven’t been for a while? Imagine that times ten, without the satisfying feeling you get from knowing it’s done you good. I lose the ability to form articulate sentences as I’ve forgotten the words and I’m completely unable to read.
Got an experience or issue you want to write about? Get in touch features @mancunion.com
I’ve learnt over the past nine months to a year that M.E. isn’t just something you can ignore that flares up occasionally: it requires significant changes to your lifestyle to manage a normal life. I’m normally in bed by 10 every night for example, because I know that if I stay up later I will feel extremely tired and start to get pain and brain fog the next day. And I can manage the physical exertion now, for the most part. Mental exertion has to be planned or compensated for. But I count myself lucky that I still can have a normal life with this kind of planning. I know people much worse off than me who simply can’t hold down a job or full-time study, which makes it even sadder that much of society considers their condition to be either trivial or invented.
I felt so scared and alienated. I was confused about what to do. It was all I could think about. I finally bit the bullet and told my tutors everything. Their response was fantastic. They were so supportive and understanding. They knew I couldn’t come out to my parents yet, so instead they helped me persuade my parents that I was too busy with my education to think about marriage.
Coming to university was particularly hard at first. Not only did the obsessive thoughts and rituals that I have to go through become much more important to my everyday life, but I felt that I had to hide that side of my personality away from my flatmates and new friends in order to avoid being labelled a ‘freak’ After a while (and after my flatmates remarked on some odd habits I had), I found the courage to discuss it with them. They’ve been really understanding and done their best to help where they can. It’s not easy by any means, but helps a lot. I think the advice I would give is to not hide away completely. Find someone you can trust to talk things over with and see if they can help.
It was at this point that a friend suggested I go join the LGBT Society. I was a bit hesitant to begin with, but I finally took the plunge and went to a social at a local pub. It was so relaxed and had a great vibe. I met some incredible people, had a great laugh and even won second prize in the quiz! Over the year I got more and more involved. Thanks to these guys, I’ve never felt so proud and so assured to tell them exactly who I am.
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