Safer Spaces
Got MICROAGGRESSIONS? We want to hear about them!
As part of a multi-phased project in collaboration with Office of Academic Development (OAD), Women’s/Gender Studies proposes we start asking our community what Safer Spaces can be. We started by recognizing and addressing microaggressions. We believe this can be done in the classroom and in a multidisciplinary way.
Microaggressions are defined as
“brief and commonplace daily verbal, behavioral and environmental indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative slights and insults that potentially have harmful or unpleasant psychological impact on the target person or group.”
(Solorzano, Ceja, & Yosso, 2000)
PHASE 1: FEBRUARY 12th – 16th –
Finissage Party Fri. Feb.16th 3:00 – 5:00 pm
This phase called for faculty to tailor an assignment to address the concept of safer spaces. Assignments, independent or through a specific course, from staff or student, were scientific, sociological, artistic, ecological or personal in their approach. Assignments were presented at an exhibit from February 12-16, in the 5C corridor, with a special finissage party to exchange on all we have learned.
PHASE 2: MARCH 2018
Three student-led, focus group lunches were held, where students, faculty and staff shared their experiences with microaggressions.
PHASE 3: Forum Theatre Event APRIL 12th, 2 – 4:00 pm
Students, faculty and staff were invited to attend a forum theatre event, where we collectively examined how microaggressions are experienced at Dawson, and began developing a response to managing them.
PHASE 4: EVALUATION & ACTION PLAN
Using the data gathered throughout the phases, a community of stakeholders proposed an action plan to generate safer spaces at Dawson. Please see below:
CONTACT:
Kim Simard – ksimard@dawsoncollege.qc.ca
