You Don't Belong Here: The Stories Our Systems Tell (and Why We Have to Disrupt Them)
There is a widespread story that institutions of higher education value diversity and will actively foster belonging for all in the community. In actuality, though, many members of the higher education community continue to face marginalization and othering within their professional and educational spaces. This session centers around an embodied case study depicting one woman’s reflections on her experiences of higher education that sent a persistent, systemic message that she didn’t belong. Through session activities, participants will consider how these messages manifest and why they continue to occur despite the extensive labor of individuals sincerely committed to advancing equity. Together, they brainstorm possibilities for changes that could increase equity at a systems level. This session is appropriate for faculty, graduate students, and academic leaders.
This session can be offered in a fully virtual, synchronous format (90 minutes) or a fully in-person synchronous format (120 minutes).
The video performance portion of this session contains strong language. It includes explicit descriptions of racist and classist behaviors and the impact of systemic inequities on individuals and communities.