Excerpt from The Complexity of Identity: “Who am I?” by Beverly Daniel Tatum

The concept of identity is a complex one, shaped by individual characteristics, family dynamics, historical factors, and social and political contexts. Who am I? The answer depends in large part on who the world around me says I am. Who do my parents say I am? Who do my peers say I am? What message is reflected back to me in the faces and voices of my teachers, my neighbors, store clerks? What do I learn from the media about myself? How am I represented in the cultural images around me? Or am I missing from the picture all together? As social scientist Charles Cooley pointed out long ago, other people are the mirror in which we see ourselves.

This “looking glass self” is not a flat one-dimensional reflection, but multidimensional. How one’s racial identity is experienced will be mediated by other dimensions of oneself: male or female; young or old; wealthy, middle-class, or poor; gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or heterosexual; able-bodied or with disabilities; Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, or atheist…

….

Dominant groups, by definition, set the parameters within which the subordinates operate. The dominant group holds the power and authority in society relative to the subordinates and determines how that power and authority may be acceptable used. Whether it is determining who gets the best jobs, whose history will be taught in school, or whose relationships will be validated by society, the dominant group has the greatest influence in determining the structure of the society.

….

Many of us are both dominant and subordinate. As Audre Lorde said, from her vantage point as a Black lesbian, “there is no hierarchy of oppressions.” The thread and threat of violence runs through all of the -isms. There is a need to acknowledge each other’s pain as we attend to our own.

For those readers who are in the dominant racial category, it may sometimes be difficult to take in what is being said by and about those who are targeted by racism. When the perspective of the subordinate is shared directly, an image is reflect to members of the dominant group that is disconcerting. To the extent that one can draw on one’s own experience of subordination — as a young person, as a person with a disability, as someone who grew up poor, as a woman — it may be easier to make meaning of another targeted group’s experience. For those readers who are targeted by racism and are angered by the obliviousness of Whites, it may be useful to attend to your experience of dominance where you may find it — as a heterosexual, as an able-bodied person, as a Christian, as a man — and consider what systems of privilege you may be overlooking. The task of resisting our own oppression does not relieve us of the responsibility of acknowledge our complicity in the oppression of others.

Our ongoing examination of who we are in our full humanity, embracing all of our identities, creates the possibility of building alliances that may ultimately free us all.

—————————————

Above text is excerpt from pages 7 - 9, Adams, M., Blumenfeld, W. J., Castaneda, R., Hackman, H. W., Peters, M. L., & Zuniga, X. (Eds.). (2000). Readings for diversity and social justice. Psychology Press.

Free version of the article in PDF: https://uucsj.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/The-Complexity-of-Identity.pdf

TOOL: The Diversity Wheel

A tool to name the complexity of diversity that we all have. It helps us see how we give meaning to the diversity in our surroundings and in ourselves based on our social identities or cultural group memberships. More importantly, it allows us to identify where we might have social power based on dominant group membership or situational power through authority, roles, access.

It’s a useful reflection to revisit as we deepen understanding of our roles in society, particularly where we hold power, as we commit to dismantling oppressive systems while aspiring to cultivate a more just, equitable world.

• Personality (at core, not shown in image): Predisposed traits that define our unique core. Shaped over time and influenced by experiences with other dimensions of the Diversity Wheel.

• Internal/Visible (Center Layer): Aspects most visible to others. Informs the stories and experiences we may have of others. And informs how we are seen by others, often times where one dimension may dominant.

• Internal/Less Visible (Inner Layer): Aspects less visible to others upon an encounter, yet influences our lived experience.

• Secondary (Outer Layer): Define many of our lived experiences and form the basis of our decisions in our family, work, society and social groups.

Round 1: Introductions

(about 2-3 min)

Brief introductions in group. Or you can go in alphabetical order by first name, briefly introduce yourself, your location.

Round 2: Exchange

(about 10 min)

— TAKING TURNS: One-by-one, take a few minutes each to share a response to one of the reflection prompts above. Even if you feel stuck and unsure, just explore that space and share what is emerging or what is puzzling you at the moment. Pass it to the next person when you are done.

— OPEN EXCHANGE: The group can agree to an open discussion on anything that emerges e.g. share your response to any of the reflection question, present a question to the group if they are open to it, respond to another person’s sharing, follow with an insight, or ask a follow-up question. Be sure to share the talk time for all who want to participate.

Round 3: Closing

(about 2 min)

— Summarize takeaways, closing thoughts, or sharing actions you want to take.