The strategic practice of using one's position inside an institution to expose and challenge its oppressive structures while maintaining access to its resources.
Sor Juana was a nun writing theology—embedded within the Church's authority even as she critiqued its limitations. This reveals a key intersectional practice: sometimes people with intersecting marginalized identities must inhabit contradictory positions, using institutional belonging strategically. Institutional critique from within differs from both uncritical assimilation and total rejection. It involves: leveraging insider knowledge, using institutional platforms to amplify marginalized voices, documenting injustices from a position of relative credibility, and building networks for change while remaining embedded. In practice, this means supporting people navigating this contradictory terrain without demanding they choose between safety and integrity. It involves recognizing that not everyone can afford pure outsider positions, that complicity and resistance often coexist, and that incremental change from within is sometimes the only viable strategy for those unable to exit. This concept honors the complexity of people working within systems while trying to transform them.
Peri can explain this concept, give practical examples, help you decide whether it applies to your situation, or recommend a journey if appropriate.
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