DEFINING DIVERSITY Prof Kerryn Phelps ACTCOSS Conference 2010

WHY DOES OBAMA REPRESENT DIVERSITY?

RIGHT-HANDED DESK

IDENTITY IN DIVERSITY “I can’t help you if you don’t know who you are, you stupid girl” Blue Caterpillar, Alice in Wonderland

WHO ARE YOU? I'm not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I'm not dumb... and I'm also not blonde. -Dolly Parton-

FACES OF DIVERSITY

TOKENISM vs DIVERSITY TOKENISM: The act of placing an individual in a position because they represent a particular trait or group rather than purely on the basis of merit. This is a sure way of creating antagonism towards the culture of diversity.

PERSONAL AUDIT What makes you uncomfortable? Why?

AMA PRESIDENCY Indigenous health report card Refugees: activist alliance Sexuality and health

AMA: DISCRIMINATION “Discrimination may be overt as in verbal abuse and physical violence or as covert as the silence that surrounds talking about GLBTI issues. This affects all members of society as individuals comply with gender role stereotypes in order to avoid homophobic discrimination. It is a constraint on human behaviour that serves to diminish individual potential for development as well as diversity in our community.”

AMA: DISCRIMINATION AND HEALTH The common experience of discrimination means that the health of GLBTI populations differs from that of the general population. This discrimination leads to health problems that are shared by this group as well as health problems specific to each subgroup. For GLBTI individuals the impact of this discrimination can lead to a poorer general health status, diminished utilisation of healthcare facilities and a decreased quality of health services.

AMA: SEXUALITY AND HEALTH The AMA believes that a doctor's non-judgmental acknowledgment of a patient's sexual orientation, gender identity and behaviour enhances clinical care. The AMA reaffirms its belief in equity of access to health care for all Australians. The AMA is supportive of interventions that prevent the development of homophobia, as this will improve the health of all Australians. The AMA recognises medicine is a diverse profession and is supportive of equal opportunity policies, which stress that GLBTI people receive the same protection as others in areas such as recruitment, promotion, training, transfer, terms and conditions of service and dismissal. The AMA is supportive of legislation that proscribes discrimination and provides legislative recognition of same- sex unions and families as this will lead to legal, societal, financial and healthcare equity within the community.

LEGISLATED DISCRIMINATION Institutions allied to religious organisations are still allowed to discriminate on the basis of sexuality when all other minority groups are protected.

AIMA PRESIDENT 2009-now INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE

PATIENT CHOICE AFFECTED BY AFFORDABILITY

DIFFERENT is NOT a DISADVANTAGE “ONLY DEAD FISH SWIM WITH THE STREAM” Diversity brings new perspectives

MENTORING

MEASURING EQUALITY IN DIVERSITY Opportunity for education Opportunity for career advancement Financial power Gender-balanced work/home load Representation in history for gender, race, background, religion, sexuality Elimination of all actual or perceived barriers in any environment… school, work, home

DIVERSITY+HUMAN RIGHTS = BETTER SOCIETY FOR ALL

AFRAID OF CHANGE? BE MORE AFRAID OF NOT CHANGING