The Complexity of IdentityPower, Privilege, and Difference

Channing Downing, JJ McGinnis, Morganne Harper

What is social identity?

Made up of: individual characteristics community affiliations social positions Includes how we are seen by others

What is intersectionality?

How each of our identities overlap within ourselves

So what are our social identities?

Identities refer to race/ethnicity, gender, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socioeconomic status (class), age, and physical or mental abilities.

Take a second to write down your identities…

Dominant and Subordinate Social Identities

Dominant Trait Examples: Subordinate Trait Examples

Man/Masculinity Women/Femininity

White People of Color

Able bodied and minded Physically or Mentally Disabled

Heterosexual LBGTQIA

Upper/Middle Class Lower class or poverty

What is Privilege?

Identity traits one carries that fall under the dominant group

Privilege is defined as “unearned” advantages

One cannot control the environment they are born into, but can control how one reacts.

Activity

Discussion

Questions?