As a heterosexual white caucasian (Half Italian and Half Irish) male, I know that I am afforded a lot of privilege in today’s society. Knowing this, however, it empowers me to advocate and be an ally to those folks who are not issued such “privilege”.
I dont like the fact that I have this privilege, and I wish that I could single handedly change the views of society to make America (and the world) an inclusive and equal place for all to coexist.
Knowing that I am all of these things makes me feel bad sometimes. It makes me wish that I could experience what it is like to be discriminated against so that I could better relate and articulate the ways society has harmed others, simply based on the color of their skin, the person they love, or the place they were born.
My race, gender, and my gender identity have made me who I am, and has caused me to pursue a career in a helping profession. This is my way of giving back and how I hope to make an impact on the world (or at least Higher Education). I presented at the NACADA Region 1 Conference yesterday, and we talked about Millennial theory and how it does NOT apply to diverse populations. The original study was conducted by white men (Neil Howe and William Strauss) on male Eurocentric populations in Virginia. We argued that their 7 Core Traits of Millennials does not accurately reflect the culture nor experiences of folks of color and those who identify as LGBTQ. Here is a copy of our presentation: #DivMillennialsNACADA
I plan to commit myself and my work to helping students develop their identities and show them that they have the power and agency to create themselves, their future, and their happiness!
What do you plan to do?
How will you help to create greater racial and gender equality?
