Discrimination and the Wheel of Privilege Tutorial

Explore the vital connection between discrimination and privilege in "Discrimination and the Wheel of Privilege." This video challenges you to reflect on your own societal position and the inherent power dynamics at play. Discover how embracing diversity and inclusion benefits everyone as we break down barriers and foster understanding among all groups. Join the conversation today!

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between the privileged and those who are discriminated against?

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Believe me,

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the connection is significant.

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Those who have trouble feeling like they belong,

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who don't feel considered as equals by others.

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In short,

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those who feel discriminated against

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are not in the privileged group.

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The discriminated are in the out groups,

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while the privileged are in the in-groups.

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If you don't see your environment as lacking

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in diversity and don't suffer from discrimination,

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chances are you are perhaps unknowingly part of the privileged in-group.

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Does this word privilege make you uncomfortable?

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When discussing the pursuit of diversity,

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one must look in the mirror.

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There's a fundamental imbalance between the enormous power of privileged

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who are part of the in-groups

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and the limited power of the members of the outgroups.

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Here is a wonderful illustration of the

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power privilege wheel proposed by Sylvia Duckworth,

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adapted from the work of the Canadian Council for Refugees.

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In Canada,

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if you are a cisgender male with Canadian citizenship,

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white skin color,

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post-secondary education,

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able-bodied,

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heterosexual,

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neurotypical,

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mentally healthy,

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robust,

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slim,

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avoid being overweight,

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it lowers your points,

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own property,

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rich,

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and speak the dominant language perfectly,

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then you are one of the privileged

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who have more power than others.

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This group even tends unconsciously for the most part to believe they are superior.

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Armed with all these attributes,

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privileges,

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the privileged person has a much better chance

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of reaching the top of the organizational pyramid,

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and the same privileged person is likely to,

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at best,

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neglect and at worst reject those who are not like them,

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including those at the center of the wheel,

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but especially those at the extremes of the wheel.

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If you are transgender,

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undocumented,

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black,

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didn't go to school,

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have a disability,

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are gay,

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are neurodivergent,

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mentally vulnerable,

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overweight,

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homeless,

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poor,

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are unable to speak the language in the country you're in,

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you won't have much power,

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and above all,

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you will be the victim of a lot of discrimination,

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whether consciously or not,

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from those who have more points than you in the wheel of privileged.

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These people from the out groups,

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those who are not at the center of the privileged wheel,

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are the ones we are trying to better integrate into

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the world of work by promoting diversity and inclusion policies.

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Indeed,

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when we talk about developing more diversity in the workplace,

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we are in fact talking.

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About the 2nd and 3rd circles of the wheel,

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diversity in the workplace can be achieved if we face this wheel,

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if we individually determine where we stand in the wheel,

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and of course if we pay attention to those who are

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more outside than us on the spokes of the wheel.

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Am I aware that unconsciously tend to reject those who are at the other end of my spoke

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because they are different,

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because I am afraid of them?

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The closer we are to the center of the wheel,

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the more likely we are to have power.

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Yes,

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this also applies in the workplace.

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Do we want to continue to enjoy these

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privileges by excluding those who are different,

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or are we betting that diversity and power sharing among all

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the members of the wheel will be a win-win for all?

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Being open to diversity is indeed a risk

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when you are part of the privileged on any spoke of the wheel.

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If I am a man,

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am I aware that even today it is a privilege,

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and how do I share space and power with women?

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If I am white,

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am I aware that this is a privilege,

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and how do I share space and power with people of color?

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If I do not have a disability,

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am I aware this is a privilege?

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And how do I share space and power with people living with disabilities?

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If I am heterosexual,

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am I aware that this is a privilege?

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And how do I share space and power with those of the LGBT community?

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If I am thin,

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am I aware that even this is a privilege?

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And how do I share space and power with overweight people?

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If I am fluent in the language of the country,

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am I aware this is a privilege,

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and how do I share space and power with people who are not fluent in the language?

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Openness to diversity will only prevail when this

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wheel loses all its rigidity and turns freely.

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