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Jul 8, 2021

#185


Having just finished reading Dolly Chugh’s The Person You Mean to Be as part of the Better Leaders Better Schools Mastermind, I am - as frequently happens with books that challenge us and make us think more deeply - continuing to process my thoughts relating to privilege, bias, diversity, inclusion and advocacy against the backdrop of my experiences and observations of the wider world. As a lifelong learner, I look forward to being able to continue to revisit these themes in conjunction with future readings and PD opportunities.



As much as I believe, to quote, Chesterton that, “Education is simply the soul of a society as it passes from one generation to another”, I am aware that the values being transferred from generation to generation are very much reflective of the majority within a particular community, culture and country.

In reflecting on my own education, in History classes I learned about The Tudors, The Age of Discovery, The Industrial Revolution and nothing about the brutal colonization of South America, Australasia and Africa by the Europeans, British rule in Ireland or the decline of The British Empire. It would have been very easy to believe the narrative taught in school and that which is often presented by certain elements of the mainstream media and politicians. [I am, thus, most appreciative that my daughter who has just earned her IB Diploma had the opportunity to have a learning environment which was not myopic, but had at the heart of it the ten attributes (inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced and reflective) of the IB Learner Profile]. It is only as an adult with an interest in learning more about the wider world that I have extended - and changed my perspective - by understanding through reading, discussions, podcasts, travelling and more about various events in history which were so often presented from the perspective solely of the victor. I am acutely aware that being literate, being time rich to pursue personal interests, and being able to travel are indicators amongst others of privilege not shared by everyone in our world.

As such, the sentence, "Invisibility is the very nature of ordinary privilege" (in Chapter Five, The Power of Ordinary Privilege, on page 119) very much resonates. It is - as indicated above - easy to be oblivious to the reality faced by others if one’s view of the world is firmly entrenched within the majority in terms of ethnicity, nationality, sexuality, linguistic ability, physical ability, financial security etc.,. Often one only becomes aware of the “ordinary privilege” on a personal level when a friend, family member or role model experiences challenges. Examples include:

  1. When temporarily relegated to using crutches or a wheelchair, one becomes aware of the height or door handles, the way in which doors open automatically or do so, but with insufficient space to manoeuver through.

  2. When travelling is impacted by the passport one holds. For the vast majority of people in the world, holding a passport (let alone more than one) is a privilege. However, for many in the Global North (A 60 second guide to . . . The Global North/South Divide), they are oblivious of the process (with regards to time, money, and humiliation) to secure a visa (if one’s place of birth and/or passport is deemed “sketchy”) prior to flying. For those from the Global North, they may - as evinced in The world's most powerful passports for 2021 - travel to the vast majority of countries either visa free or with a visa issued upon arrival.

  3. When certain opportunities (extra curricular activities, university, trips etc.,.) are not feasible due to the cost involved.

  4. When one’s sports hero is castigated by mainstream media for their actions and beliefs and/or performance in a way that would most likely not be applied to a white and/or male counterpart. It is interesting to see the way in which Colin Kaepernick’s ‘taking a knee’ has (i) been interpreted by those who feel threatened and insulted by the simple action and (ii) moved beyond the realm of American Football. Here in the UK sports stars have often had to deal with being placed on a pedestal (when winning) and then marginalized when less successful. For those of colour, the marginalization often includes - despite them representing their country - reference to their 'otherness'. A prime example is Raheem Sterling who is lionized for his current performance in the UEFA 2020 Championship, but just five years ago was being demonized.

After the murder of George Floyd, it is evident that there has been an increase in demonstrations highlighting inequities in society and protests against police brutality and racial profiling and also countless examples of individual schools, education systems and institutions looking to promote a single narrative to the detriment of those who are the minority. For many people, they have become more aware of their “ordinary privilege”; others have felt threatened by the notion of #BlackLivesMatter. Rather than seeing the #BlackLivesMovement as a plea for justice, equity and belonging (all of which is, at least theoretically, already in place), it is perceived (and used for political expediency) as something sinister. Football (soccer) in England has come a long way from the dark days of overt racism and hooliganism. Despite changes, there were “fans” who were against the team ‘taking a knee’ and chose to boo. Gareth Southgate, the England manager wrote a letter to fans entitled Dear England in which he spoke about the duty of the players “... to continue to interact with the public on matters such as equality, inclusivity and racial injustice, while using the power of their voices to help put debates on the table, raise awareness and educate.”

I am aware that whilst I may be marginalized in certain areas, I am overwhelmingly privileged in many other elements and that the degree of privilege, “ordinary privilege”, can change according to the circumstances in which I find myself. and whilst reading Chapter 11 (Show Meaningful Support), I was very much reminded of three of Desmond Tutu's quotes:


“Compassion is not just feeling with someone, but seeking to change the situation…

if you are going to be compassionate, be prepared for action!”

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.”

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse, and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.”


In closing, DuFour et al (2016) state, “When something is truly a priority in an organization, people do not hope it happens; they develop and implement systematic plans to ensure that it happens." With both this and Chugh’s “Invisibility is the very nature of ordinary privilege" in mind, how will you enact change for the betterment of our communities?


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