Unity + Diversity = University! Fall Training 2010

Color Quiz

Thinking In Color What is diversity? How is diversity different from multiculturalism? Why is diversity an uncomfortable topic? What is diversity? How is diversity different from multiculturalism? Why is diversity an uncomfortable topic?

No One is Born a Racist? We have unrealistic expectations when discussing diversity. Prejudice is unnatural. Acceptance just happens. We should all be colorblind. We have unrealistic expectations when discussing diversity. Prejudice is unnatural. Acceptance just happens. We should all be colorblind.

The “Other” Anthropology: We can only understand another culture within its own terms. Biology: It is human nature to create categories and divide the world. Philosophy: In order to develop self- consciousness we must compare ourselves to others. Sociology: Certain ethnic/social groups are stereotyped and excluded to create an imbalance of power. Anthropology: We can only understand another culture within its own terms. Biology: It is human nature to create categories and divide the world. Philosophy: In order to develop self- consciousness we must compare ourselves to others. Sociology: Certain ethnic/social groups are stereotyped and excluded to create an imbalance of power.

What Defines Otherness? Age/Generation Gender/Sexual Orientation Race/Ethnicity/Nationality Socio-Economic Status/Education Religion/Political Beliefs Mental/Physical Disability Family Life/Experience Personality/Appearance Age/Generation Gender/Sexual Orientation Race/Ethnicity/Nationality Socio-Economic Status/Education Religion/Political Beliefs Mental/Physical Disability Family Life/Experience Personality/Appearance

Confronting the Other Truth vs. Perspective Sympathy vs. Empathy Political Correctness vs. Respect Truth vs. Perspective Sympathy vs. Empathy Political Correctness vs. Respect

Truth vs. Perspective Truth is “the quality of being in accordance with experience, facts, or reality.” Perspective is “a specific point of view in understanding or judging things or events, especially one that shows them in their true relations to one another.” Webster’s New World Dictionary Truth is “the quality of being in accordance with experience, facts, or reality.” Perspective is “a specific point of view in understanding or judging things or events, especially one that shows them in their true relations to one another.” Webster’s New World Dictionary

Sympathy vs. Empathy Sympathy is the ability to cognitively understand a person’s emotional state. It often includes concepts like “pity” and “compassion”. Empathy is about experiencing another person’s feelings. You imagine or experience events from their point of view. Sympathy is the ability to cognitively understand a person’s emotional state. It often includes concepts like “pity” and “compassion”. Empathy is about experiencing another person’s feelings. You imagine or experience events from their point of view.

Political Correctness vs. Respect Wikipedia defines Political Correctness as “real or perceived attempts to impose limits on language, terms, and viewpoints in public discussion in order to avoid potentially offensive terminology.” Seinfeld: Should we be talking about this? Wikipedia defines Political Correctness as “real or perceived attempts to impose limits on language, terms, and viewpoints in public discussion in order to avoid potentially offensive terminology.” Seinfeld: Should we be talking about this?

Take a 5- Minute Break!

Quiz: My Favorite Topic ME!

Group Discussion What are stereotypes? When have you felt judged as a stereotype? When have you imposed a stereotype on another person? Can stereotypes be positive? What are stereotypes? When have you felt judged as a stereotype? When have you imposed a stereotype on another person? Can stereotypes be positive?

The Power of Language Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis: Language shapes our ideas and actions. People will also respond to their linguistic labels in the way they are expected to.

Oppressive Language Nigger Gyp Crazy Wetback Faggot White Trash Lame Ghetto Nigger Gyp Crazy Wetback Faggot White Trash Lame Ghetto

Inclusive Language Be aware of gendered nouns. i.e. “freshman vs. first-year student” Be aware of slang that promotes oppression and stereotypes. i.e. “wife-beater” Choose words that are descriptive rather than polarizing. i.e. substitutes for “ghetto, gay, and retarded” Be aware of gendered nouns. i.e. “freshman vs. first-year student” Be aware of slang that promotes oppression and stereotypes. i.e. “wife-beater” Choose words that are descriptive rather than polarizing. i.e. substitutes for “ghetto, gay, and retarded”

The Problem with Tolerance Negative Levels of Attitude Repulsion Pity Tolerance Acceptance Negative Levels of Attitude Repulsion Pity Tolerance Acceptance

The Joys of Nurturance Positive Levels of Attitude Support Admiration Appreciation Nurturance Positive Levels of Attitude Support Admiration Appreciation Nurturance

Let’s Move Outside!

Social Justice Social Justice is a process and a goal: Process: Understanding the social power dynamics and social inequality that result in some groups having privilege, status, and access while others are denied these. Goal: Full and equal participation of all groups in society; equitable distribution of resources; all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure; sense of social responsibility. Social Justice is a process and a goal: Process: Understanding the social power dynamics and social inequality that result in some groups having privilege, status, and access while others are denied these. Goal: Full and equal participation of all groups in society; equitable distribution of resources; all members are physically and psychologically safe and secure; sense of social responsibility.

Privilege and Oppression Privilege: Unearned access to resources only readily available to some people as a result of their advantaged social group membership. Oppression: A system that maintains advantage and disadvantage based on social group memberships. Ally: A member of a dominant group who works to end oppression. Privilege: Unearned access to resources only readily available to some people as a result of their advantaged social group membership. Oppression: A system that maintains advantage and disadvantage based on social group memberships. Ally: A member of a dominant group who works to end oppression.

Privilege Why does privilege make us so uncomfortable? How do we move beyond the guilt of privilege? Why does privilege make us so uncomfortable? How do we move beyond the guilt of privilege?

Becoming an Ally An Ally…  Feels good about own social group membership; is comfortable and proud of identity. Social Group Membership Profile  Takes responsibility for learning about targeted group heritage.  Listens to and respects the perspectives and experiences of targeted group members. An Ally…  Feels good about own social group membership; is comfortable and proud of identity. Social Group Membership Profile  Takes responsibility for learning about targeted group heritage.  Listens to and respects the perspectives and experiences of targeted group members.

Becoming an Ally An Ally…  Acknowledges unearned privileges received as a result of advantaged status.  Recognizes that unlearning oppressive beliefs and actions is a lifelong process.  Is willing to be confronted about own behavior and attitudes.  Is committed to taking action against social justice in own sphere of influence. An Ally…  Acknowledges unearned privileges received as a result of advantaged status.  Recognizes that unlearning oppressive beliefs and actions is a lifelong process.  Is willing to be confronted about own behavior and attitudes.  Is committed to taking action against social justice in own sphere of influence.

What Would You Do? How would an Ally respond to these scenarios? ory?id= &page=1 How would an Ally respond to these scenarios? ory?id= &page=1

HOW CAN WE CELEBRATE DIVERSITY? Look how far we have come!

Diversity is in all of Us “ Why not let people differ about their answers to the great mysteries of the Universe? Let each seek one's own way to the highest, to one's own sense of supreme loyalty in life, one's ideal of life. Let each philosophy, each world- view bring forth its truth and beauty to a larger perspective, that people may grow in vision, stature and dedication.” Algernon Black “ Why not let people differ about their answers to the great mysteries of the Universe? Let each seek one's own way to the highest, to one's own sense of supreme loyalty in life, one's ideal of life. Let each philosophy, each world- view bring forth its truth and beauty to a larger perspective, that people may grow in vision, stature and dedication.” Algernon Black

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