Respect
Identity ▷ Avoid gender-specific words like “guys,” “dudes,” “ladies,” etc. ▷ Use people's correct/preferred pronouns. ▷ Share our own pronouns. ▷ Avoid assumptions based on gender, sexuality, race, religion, etc. ▷ Don’t assume our experience is “normal” and everyone is “just like me.” ▷ When we feel comfortable in a place/conversation or feel like part of the “norm,” consider who has privilege. (view "Privilege" video) ▷ If uncomfortable in a conversation about race, gender, sexuality, etc. with someone different from us, focus on understanding. ▷ Don't erase people by saying "I don't see color/race," "All lives matter," or "I don't care if someone is black, brown, purple, or polka-dotted." ▷ Don't seek out/point out an example of someone from a marginalized group who is an exception to the group just to support your opinion when you disagree with someone sharing their experiences with discrimination. View "Internalized Oppression" video. |
Promote
Equality Equality is ensuring that every person has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives. Equality is the idea that no one deserves worse chances because of where they come from, how they were born, or if they are differently abled. Equality recognizes that historically certain people face discrimination because of their gender, race, sexuality, religion, ability, language, etc. |
Engage in
Activism -- Attend a meeting/town hall -- Start/Sign petitions -- Contact government leaders -- Attend a march/protest -- Provide supplies for those participating in protests -- Call out behavior and language that perpetuates racism, sexism, transphobia, etc. -- Support businesses owned by marginalized people -- Report trolls on social media -- Don't boost trolls' comments on social media with a reaction/ response |
More Tips For How To Become Inclusive
- Educate Ourselves by reading books, articles and stories told by people who are members of groups that are not dominant in society--African American, Latina/o, Asian American, Native American, bi-racial, immigrant, lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual, girls, women, etc.)
- Listen and Watch movies, podcasts, interviews, documentaries that highlight the voices of marginalized groups of people to be heard.
- Listen to people's experiences with racism, sexism, heterosexism, and transphobia to learn not to challenge these experiences.
- Participate in conversations with people who differ from us. Try to understand different perspectives and experiences.
- Attend trainings whenever we can. If they aren't offered, ask for them in school, at work, in social activities and even among our friends.
- Surround ourselves with people who are different from us.
- Notice who is and is not represented in any group we find ourselves in to increase awareness of who influences our opinions and perspectives.
- Have Difficult Conversations. If someone says or does something that is not inclusive, speak up. Ask them questions about what they said and why they think that.
- Share Our Perspectives to challenge misconceptions and biases.
- Address our own biases regularly. Commit to assuming we have biases and that we act from them, often in unconscious ways.
- Treat others the way THEY want to be treated. Don't assume or expect everyone to share our experiences and see things our way.