Exploring Your Practice

Exploring Your Practice

How have dominant culture and ideology informed my perception of self and others? How can I utilize my lived experiences to better serve youth and the larger community?

I have recently been struggling with what it means to be a white, privileged woman in a position of power as it relates to working with youth in Rhode Island; especially BIPOC youth and even adults. Having grown up in a very diverse community, even recognizing that I am white and have power, has been a journey in itself. As the video Power of Privilege and Oppression touches on, white is so much the norm of our society that it is invisible, thus bringing this invisible thing to light has been both challenging and rewarding.

It was difficult for me in my work to learn that the black youth who did not already know me, were afraid of me. During this past summer, for the first time in my life, I was met with crippling fear and hostility from youth and their families for being white. Fear so strong, some youth did not speak to me and hostility so substantial that some youth did not come back to the program. During this time, I experienced what it is like for my BIPOC superiors all the time, having an unreasonable amount of pressure and animosity towards them and the program they run by the white families.

Having experienced this first-hand has given me a better ability to see what was invisible, understand empathy and think more strategically about the authoritative power between myself and our youth. While I still have much to learn, one specific practice I have begun is encouraging youth to call me by my name without using the title "Ms." I will call them by their first name and they will call me by mine and this is one thing I can do when we first meet to tear down the image of the power and privileged white woman. There is no need for title because we are equals in this space together.

Part of creating culture within our groups with youth is allowing them to be their whole selves. As an afterschool and out-of-school time program provider it is important for me to allow youth to take the lead in sharing what makes them comfortable. "Which bathroom is SAFE for me?" is a question from the Power of Privilege and Oppression video that really resonated with me. If youth have to question what is safe for them then there is an inequity happening that needs to be remedied. I believe the most important thing myself and anyone can do is listen to youth!

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