As part of the Buff community, there are things we can do to create and maintain an inclusive campus environment. When it comes to caring for one another, both on and off campus, here are some tips for being an ally and addressing harmful language or actions when you see or hear them.
1. Learn and listen
Start by learning about the experiences of others with different backgrounds and identities than you. This includes people of cultures, ethnicities, identities, and abilities that vary from experience or familiarity.
Find materials to learn about the history of discrimination, systemic oppression, and racial oppression in our country. Books, articles, documentaries or podcasts are options to learn. This list of anti-racism resources compiled by University Libraries and the Self-Guided Learning Resources from the Center for Inclusion and Social Change are great places to start. Vary your media consumption (entertainment, news sources, social media, etc.) to include a variety of voices and perspectives. Learn about the historical experiences and struggles that marginalized groups have faced to better understand the current challenges in our society. Get involved in things like student activism and social justice organizations, the Greek Multicultural Council, the National Panhellenic Council, or the Center for Inclusion and Social Change (CISC) if you are a student. Participate in trainings provided by Human Resources, CISC workshops, OIEC educational sessions, or your individual department offerings if you are a faculty or staff member. Stay informed with what is happening in your community.
Make an effort to be inclusive in your daily life – be mindful of the language you use and the content you share on social media. As you learn more, reflect on and acknowledge any advantages and biases you may have. Confronting our own biases is often challenging and uncomfortable, and necessary if we are to help create change.
2. Be an effective ally
It can be exhausting for people who have been marginalized to constantly feel like they have to address problematic comments or behavior. Learning and practicing skills to address racism, sexism, homophobia, or other abusive acts directed at people with marginalized identities is a critical way to be an ally.
There are many effective bystander strategies that allies can use, and even subtle acts can have a big impact. There can be value in speaking up without speaking on behalf of others, even if it’s just to let someone know you don’t agree with their actions. You don’t need to have the perfect response to show support for someone who is the target of hurtful words or actions.
3. Have difficult but important conversations.
Addressing hurtful language or actions can lead to some difficult conversations with close friends, family, and colleagues. However, it is important that we have these conversations.
When addressing someone’s words or actions, you’ll want to be strategic with your approach. Think about the outcome you expect from the conversation. Do you hope to educate someone? Show solidarity with someone who is being harmed or attacked? Set a limit for future interactions? Before engaging in a potentially difficult conversation, it’s important to check in with ourselves on what we hope to achieve and what could realistically happen.
It can help to approach the situation with compassion and curiosity, and assume that the person did not mean to be inappropriate or offensive. We really can’t know what’s in someone’s heart. If possible, avoid getting mad at someone who makes an inappropriate comment all at once. This could put them on the defensive, making it less likely that they’ll actually listen to feedback. Regardless of their intent, showing compassion gives them a chance to save face and do better now or in the future.
Here are some examples of how you might approach the conversation:
“You may not realize that the comment you made had a negative impact. I wonder if we could talk about it. “I think we have very different perceptions on this issue. Could you help me understand where you come from? “I hear where you come from and I know that some people feel differently. Would you be open to hearing other perspectives?” “I don’t agree with what you said. I wonder what has led you to this belief?
When we have difficult conversations, they can get heated or escalate more than we expected. If necessary, ask to take a break and resume the conversation after everyone has had time to calm down.
Change does not happen overnight. Conversations may not always work out the way we’d like, and sometimes seeing progress requires a series of conversations and a willingness to keep interacting. We cannot control the outcome, but we can control what we say and do.
Source: news.google.com