By Whose Standards Archives | The Inclusion Solution

By Whose Standards: Meeting People Where They Are

by Brittany J. Harris | Dec 12, 2024 | 1

In my experience, “meeting people where they are” has long referred to and been limited to inquiry into the intellect, the mind. Likewise, “meeting people where they are,” as well-intentioned as it may be, in practice, has more often been applied with a “silent” white. In other words, “meeting [white] people where they are.” It is worth calling attention to the ways in which even our work – diversity, equity, inclusion, justice work – must be held accountable to its deference to the white gaze.

By Whose Standards: Boundaries, Self-Care and Redefining Commitment

by Brittany J. Harris | Dec 12, 2024 | 0

We are experiencing a cultural shift, y’all. Simone Biles. Naomi Osaka. Dr. Nikole Hannah-Jones. Mental health. Black Women. Boundaries. In the mainstream, we are experiencing Black women unapologetically affirm their divine right to refusal and rest, and gift us with possibility for what it means to reorient our relationship with “work.” It is all fun and solidarity, retweets and hashtags, until someone we know models radical self-love and asserts their boundaries, and we experience inconvenience as a result. It hits different…and reconciling that, in my experience, is the work—that intrapersonal reckoning.

By Whose Standards: A Look Back

by Scott Ferry | Nov 18, 2021 | 0

Over the last four months, we’ve been asking the question, “By whose standards?” to begin unpacking the fraught relationship between organizational inertia — how things have always been done — and equity-centered momentum — how we imagine things could be. Equity and justice will not come easy, as the systems in place that enforce and uphold fundamentally inequitable, unjust standards are deeply entrenched in our societal norms. Deeply entrenched, though, is not the same as permanent.

By Whose Standards? On Decolonizing Beauty

by Gabrielle Gayagoy Gonzalez | Nov 4, 2021 | 0

Growing up in the suburbs of the Midwest during the 1980s, ads of blonde-haired, blue-eyed models were a driving force in how I subconsciously defined beauty. The time I spent applying eyeliner, plucking errant hairs, and curling and teasing my bangs to high heaven easily could have been spent on developing more sustainable sources of confidence key to navigating the world as a young woman of color existing in mostly white spaces — reading, journaling, or trying new activities.

By Whose Standards: “Leadership Material” and Underqualified Executives

by Leigh Morrison | Oct 21, 2021 | 0

For executives further along in their equity and inclusion journey, recent events and today’s socio-political climate may be prompting a question they are not accustomed to grappling with — particularly if they have faced relatively few barriers to career advancement: “Am I qualified for this role?” The ability to understand and work effectively with others across cultural differences is a critical skill; lacking it ought to be seen as an underqualification for anyone tasked with leading a diverse workforce. It is a result of white supremacy that it has not always been understood that way.

By Whose Standards? The Gatekeepers of “Proper” English

by Scott Ferry | Oct 14, 2021 | 0

The standards by which we judge communication and language skills—especially in the workplace—is completely disconnected from the lived reality of most people in the country. It is, quite frankly, absurd to discount a person’s intelligence or capabilities based on nonstandard use of English, especially in a society where periods are now considered aggressive in text messages and 80% of people use GIFs and emojis to clarify their communications. For the sake of equity, we need to move beyond the staid idea that Standard English is “correct” English; that codeswitching is the only path to effective cross-cultural communication (read: talking to white folks).

By Whose Standards: Nice v. Kind

by Tami Jackson | Oct 7, 2021 | 0

When I first moved to Texas — more specifically Austin, Texas — I distinctly remember all of the typical culture shocks: the scorching hot triple-digit weather, breakfast tacos, Topo Chico, Cholula, and the almost complete absence of snow and ice – almost. But what surprised me even more was a shift in communication and socialization style that I didn’t anticipate – the expectation of being “nicer.” Initially, I chalked it up to the change in geographical location. But this was something else. I experienced how being a Black woman in predominately white spaces complicates not-so-subtle differences in expected prosocial norms.

By Whose Standards Are Missing People’s Lives Worthy?

by Mareisha N. Winters Reese | Sep 30, 2021 | 0

The case of Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, the 22-year-old white women who went missing while on a cross country road trip with her fiancé and was subsequently found dead, has captivated the nation for weeks. Every news outlet has covered this case in some form or another making both Petito and her fiancé a household name. The exhaustive coverage has brought to question, why don’t BIPOC missing persons get the same type of attention? It further begs the question, by whose standards do missing people’s lives matter? By whose standards are missing people’s lives worthy?

By Whose Standards: Holding Hollywood to Account for Telling Authentic Stories and Subverting Harmful Stereotypes

by Gabrielle Gayagoy Gonzalez | Sep 23, 2021 | 0

We have a long way to go when it comes to equitable representation on our screens — and progress can’t just rest on the shoulders of the few creatives of color in powerhouse positions such as Rhimes, Tyler Perry, Kenya Barris, Mindy Kaling, Lena Waithe, and Michaela Coel, who along with their peers, currently provide the bulk of opportunities for BIPOC talent. Allies also have to step up to do their part and the industry as a whole must organize to ensure accountability.

By Whose Standards? Racial Reckoning: How Are We Holding Organizations Accountable for Making Good on Their Promises?

by Mary-Frances Winters | Sep 9, 2021 | 0

It is now 16 months since the George Floyd murder and the outpouring of support from many major organizations to prioritize anti-racism efforts. This period of history is being dubbed as a “racial reckoning.” Companies pledged to put more Black people in leadership positions, focus more recruiting efforts at HBCU’s, increase their spending with Black-owned businesses and donate to Black-run not-for-profits. How are we doing on these commitments and by whose standards?

By Whose Standards: Organizational Distrust and Anti-Racism Work

by Rochelle Younan-Montgomery | Aug 26, 2021 | 0

What are the conditions that create an environment lacking in trust? What would it take to move a group from a place of distrust to constructive dialogue centered on those most impacted by harmful inequities? Is that even possible? If organizations are serious about the work of equity and justice, leaders will need to start with rebuilding trust. It takes significant time and effort to heal wounds and repair harm. Sometimes this will result in non-resolution and an employee will make the choice to exit the organization. And sometimes, it will result in a renewed sense of commitment. So, what does rebuilding trust look like in practice?

By Whose Standards: Anxiety, Identity, and Being “Okay”

by Tami Jackson | Aug 19, 2021 | 0

This week, our feature is a conversation between two of The Winters Group’s instructional designers, Tami Jackson and Scott Ferry. In this chat conversation they discussed their respective experiences with anxiety in the workplace and by whose standards we measure being “okay,” as well as how their respective identities have influenced how they have learned to navigate mental health issues in the workplace.

Category: By Whose Standards

By Whose Standards: Meeting People Where They Are

By Whose Standards: Boundaries, Self-Care and Redefining Commitment

By Whose Standards: A Look Back

By Whose Standards? On Decolonizing Beauty

By Whose Standards: “Leadership Material” and Underqualified Executives

By Whose Standards? The Gatekeepers of “Proper” English

By Whose Standards: Nice v. Kind

By Whose Standards Are Missing People’s Lives Worthy?

By Whose Standards: Holding Hollywood to Account for Telling Authentic Stories and Subverting Harmful Stereotypes

By Whose Standards? Racial Reckoning: How Are We Holding Organizations Accountable for Making Good on Their Promises?

By Whose Standards: Organizational Distrust and Anti-Racism Work

By Whose Standards: Anxiety, Identity, and Being “Okay”

Racial Justice at Work: Practical Solutions for Systemic Change

Black Fatigue: How Racism Erodes the Mind, Body, and Spirit

Inclusive Conversations: Fostering Equity, Empathy and Belonging Across Differences

We Can’t Talk About That At Work! (Second Edition)

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