Diversity & Inclusion: Understanding Intersectionality AAISA Summit Plenary September 2018 Adebayo Katiiti – Organization for All LGBTIQ+ Refugees in Canada Irfan Chaudhry – MacEwan University Marni Panas – Alberta Health Services

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Diversity and Inclusion at Marni Panas – Senior Advisor Diversity and Inclusion

Who Is AHS? Canada’s first and largest province wide, fully integrated health system Provide care and services to 4.5 million Albertans (plus some from Saskatchewan, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories) 130,000 Employees, physicians, midwives and volunteers Canada’s 4th largest employer Alberta’s largest employer Alberta’s 3rd Largest City

Purpose of AHS Diversity and Inclusion?

Who Is AHS Diversity and Inclusion? D&I Centre of Expertise D&I Council D&I Community of Practice D&I Network Resources Diversity Census and Inclusion Survey Consultation services Education

Diversity and Inclusion: The Long Game

Understanding Intersectionality Irfan Chaudhry – MacEwan University Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

It refers to the overlapping or intersecting social identities and related systems of oppression, domination, or discrimination. It is simply the idea that multiple identities intersect to create a whole that is different from the component identities.

The identities that can intersect include gender, race, social class, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, religion, age, mental disability, physical disability, mental illness, and physical illness as well as other forms of identity.

Why it matters: Intersectionality helps us understand how our social categories intersect and how these intersections impact experiences, structures of power and oppression. It examines how social categories such as gender, race, and ethnicity overlap and shape our experiences, our life outcomes, and our views of the world.

The CRIAW / ICREF’s Intersectionality Wheel is perhaps the most interesting graphic description of how intersectionality operates.

The innermost circle comprises unique circumstances of privilege and power that come with one’s personal, unique identity: for instance, what family you belong to, what opportunities you’ve had, what you’ve done with these opportunities and what exposures you’ve been privy to.

The second layer, which comprises personal identity aspects: these things are a mix of identity factors that can change (age, education, occupation, social status, religion etc.) and those that cannot change (skin colour, indigeneity, caste, work history). In combination with unique circumstances of power, privilege and identity, your personal identity factors can create a very unique experience for you — one that’s anywhere between marginally and markedly different from those of others.

The third layer is where we have types of discrimination that impact identity: such as racism, ableism, ageism, discrimination, heterosexism, sexism, among others. The basis for discrimination is often a combination of historical practices of discrimination, radicalized perspectives, ignorance, demonization and fear psychosis around certain identities.

The fourth layer comprises larger structures that work together to reinforce exclusion. When these factors interact, we find ourselves in a place where our personal identities (with or without unique privileges, powers and identities) interact with social forces that operate certain kinds of discrimination, which are propped by social structures that keep this discrimination alive.

Why it matters: If we have intersectionality driving our perceptions, policies and legislations, we will be able to see that multiple oppressions lead to “circumstances” that affect the choice-consequence axis.

Adebayo’s Story Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2

Presentation adapted from medium.com Source: https://medium.com/the-red-elephant-foundation/understanding-intersectionality-a1da46e2e0b2