Running head: Forum #1 1

Module One Forum #1

Abstract

Read pp. 7-26 in Readings for Diversity and Social Justice. Write a response for each of articles

1-4 (pp. 7-26) in one synthesized paragraph (4 paragraphs, 1 per article), answering the question

below for each article: What do I most want to remember and think about from this article?

Read pp. 1-21, and pp. 41-43 in Principles of Social Psychology. Consider a time when you had

an important social interaction or made an important decision. In 3-4 paragraphs, analyze your

responses to the situation in terms of affect, behavior, and cognition.

The Complexity of Identity: "Who am I?"

– Beverly Daniel Tatum

I have often used the quote, "nothing of me is original; I am the combined effort of

everyone I have ever known" (Goodreads, n.d.). I always have sort of strongly believed in the

quote. I spoke about our biases and perceptions, the way we see things, and how we need to be

conscious of them during some of my training and courses. The classroom exercise caught my

eye and put my brain in disequilibrium; the author talked about describing oneself with many

descriptors in sixty seconds (Adams et al., 2010, p6). I was intrigued when I learned how some

of the elements of one's identity are taken for granted when they are a member of a certain

dominant or advantaged group. The author mentions that in the absence of dissonance, some of

these elements of identity escape the attention of people (Adams et al., 2010, p6). When I try to

describe myself, the age factor and the country I come from always comes to mind. The reason

that they get highlighted for me is, I think, because I am still in dissonance with that element of

identity. I am usually surrounded by people who are way younger and stronger than me in the
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outdoor field that I work in and also because I live in a country that I am not born in. However,

as I think more about it, down the lane whenever I come to terms with it, it would be interesting

to know if I would still care for it to be mentioned whenever I need the complete the sentence "I

am _____." Also, as I think about my multiple identities, some elements, such as that I am able-

bodied and heterosexual, often escape my mind. Now it makes me wonder how that could be

affecting the way I see people and the way I embrace life. As I move forward, it will be a

constant reminder that I can be aware of the privilege I have held unconsciously and practice

empathy.

Identities and Social Locations: Who Am I? Who Are My People?

– Gwyn Kirk and Margo Okazawa – Rey

I always viewed identity as an individual concept, and it intrigued me when I learned the

dictionary defines identity as establishing identification with others. I have now started to think

identity is not just about who I am but also about those characteristics that make me belong to a

certain social group. When the author speaks about how critical incidents catalyze a shift in how

we view ourselves, I could relate to that (Adams et al., 2010, p9). Losing my father at an early

age, witnessing domestic violence in early childhood, the opportunity to travel outside the

country, and having a major career shift at a later age, these incidents have played a vital role in

how I view myself. It's interesting how I try to distinguish myself from others by highlighting

certain aspects of my identity to project myself as unique. Yet, on the other end, I seek approval

and a sense of belonging with the place and the same people. I wish to belong, yet I wish to be

separate; how more contradictory can my thoughts get? But then I realize we live with multiple
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and complex identities, so contradiction is the norm. Colonization has greatly impacted people's

identities (Adams et al., 2010, p13), and it's true for India as well. One of the examples I could

think of was while I was growing up, I studied in a Christian school. At every year level, there

used to be two sections, one with the regional language and one with the English language.

When I reflect on it, the people who studied the English language were always considered

superior compared to the regional language folks. I noticed the level of self-confidence in

English-speaking folks was way higher than those who studied in the regional language. Now

ironically, people are always amazed and in awe when I tell them that I speak five languages and

English is considered ordinary and taken for granted.

The Social Construction of Difference

– Allan G. Johnson

I have often facilitated lessons on identity tree and privilege walk in some courses. I have

always seen a sense of surprise at the end of the privilege walk activity. I think that's because

many things people have taken for granted come punching them in the face when they see

themselves standing at a different point than others of the same group. One of the statements in

the privilege was to take a step forward if you do not need to think twice when the instructor

assigns the tarps that are either male or female occupied. Taking that step forward made me

realize one of the privileges I held so unconsciously and have always taken for granted. I started

to think about what privilege looks like for me every day. I do not need to think twice about

which restroom I need to enter, at a gas station or a restaurant. The access to education,

especially being able to study in English, has given me the privilege to travel across the world
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without worrying about language apprehensions when interacting with people. However, while I

hold gratitude for the privileges that I have held, I am not ignorant of the fact that how I have

grown up in a society that has oppressed women for centuries. The repercussions are those seen

in those ripples throughout my life. An example, I grew up in an Indian family that said I was

supposed to follow certain norms and a particular way of life because I am a woman. Now

although I am out of that atmosphere, in my everyday life, I start feeling guilty when I do not

follow those norms, even though I am well aware that I do not need to confine myself to those

norms. So, it has been an everyday battle with self.

Theoretical Foundations

– Lee Anne Bell

Whenever I read anything about oppression during school days, I have always felt that I

was not touched by it. I belonged to a generation born in a country with forty years of

Independence by then. I belonged to a religion that was already a dominant element in the

society that I lived in. I used to believe it was a thing of the past and never even reflected on how

biased everyone is, including me. As I read about different features of oppression, I could relate

so much more personally, especially it being restrictive and internalized (Adams et al., 2010, pp.

22-23). I will elaborate more with one of the examples in my recent experience. My partner was

supposed to head the project of establishing a new outdoor education center in one of the Asian

countries. I do not want to mention the name of the organization or the country because I am

worried it could offend someone or anyone. While he worked on the project and had to move to

that country, various inputs came from the people in that place, stating that it would be better if a

white person could come and head the operations then things would run more smoothly. So, my
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partner dropped that role. One of the requirements of the position was not the skills needed to

head the operations but the skin color. What surprised me was this was not a white person saying

they needed only white; this was a non-white person saying they needed a white to head the

operations. It made me think about how internalized oppression is.

Principles of Social Psychology

Read pp. 1-21, and pp. 41-43 in Principles of Social Psychology. Consider a time when you had

an important social interaction or made an important decision. In 3-4 paragraphs, analyze your

responses to the situation in terms of affect, behavior, and cognition.

I always seem to shy away from social interactions and feel very uncomfortable. Most of

the time, I prefer to stay alone or with my close ones rather than be with other people or meet

new people. As I read about self-concern and other-concern (University of Minnesota Libraries,

2015), I wonder if it is about self-concern taking precedence over other-concern, but I am not

sure. It is also possible that my need for acceptance by others is so high (other-concern) that I am

too scared to mess it up, so I would rather not interact at all.

A few years ago, I went to Leh, in the northern part of India, for an expedition. A couple

of years before, I had already once attempted to summit the peak, but it had not happened for

various reasons, and this time, I had hoped that I would complete it. I met my expedition leader

and also the other team members. Since it was a remote place, the cellphone network connection

was awful. The day before the expedition began, I got my mother's message that my best friend's

partner had passed away. I immediately moved to a place with a better network and found more

messages from my mother and the same message from my friend. I immediately spoke to the
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expedition leader, aborted the expedition, booked the flight to her place, which was a massive

hole in my pocket, and was on the way to meet her. I spent the next ten days with her in her in-

law's place. I did not do anything much for those ten days, and I just stayed with her. I am not

much of a person who talks, so I didn't speak much but stayed.

Now when I reflect on it, it was one of the most important decisions I ever made. We

always considered each other best friends, but after that incident, she always told me she had my

back whenever we met. She has encouraged me to take risks with my life and career choices and

has often assured me that she is there to help in every way possible. Years ago, when I took that

flight to meet her, I did not think of reciprocal altruism (University of Minnesota Libraries,

2015), but now when I read about it, this decision came to my mind. I had become a massive part

of her social support that day, which eventually resulted in her becoming the same to me, which

to me gives immense happiness knowing that there is someone, even though in another part of

the world, who would give up everything to be by my side if something were to happen.

When I made the decision, the cognition was that my brain told me that this was a very

important person in my life who I like a lot. In terms of affect, although the emotions

experienced were high, it was a positive mood to take action and to be on her side. To go by the

textbook terms, the behavior was determined by the principle of reciprocal altruism. Although in

life, during such moments, you are not thinking about what you would get back in exchange, you

do it unconditionally, and that's where other-concern take precedence, but I think it does give the

same results as that of social exchange.

References

Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Catalano, D. Chase, DeJong, K., Hackman, H. W., Hopkins, L.,

Love, B., Peters, M. L., Shlasko, D., & Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2010). Readings for diversity and

social justice: Second Edition. Routledge.

Goodreads. (n.d.). A quote from Invisible Monsters. Goodreads. Retrieved March 9, 2023, from

https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/43717-nothing-of-me-is-original-i-am-the-combined-effort

University of Minnesota Libraries (2015). Principles of Social Psychology. Retrieved from:

https://open.lib.umn.edu/socialpsychology/