Diversity and Dominant System of Power: Personal Reaction to Diversity Suggested Lesson Objective: SWBAT reflect on how their potential stereotypes translate to people they know SWBAT plan potential strategies and reactions to execute when confronted with various situations related to being a campus minority

Preparation 1. Print worksheet (page 5) OR post questions (page 3) in different areas of the classroom for a gallery walk exercise. Template attached.

Instructions 1. Choose between seat work or gallery style lesson. Seat work will just be the worksheet and students individually working on the questions. 2. Split students into four groups. The groups should be a mix of different social circles within your class. 3. Review the concept of stereotypes by either hosting a discussion or playing this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAdickGZ3BU or refer to the notes below: Before completing these prompts, students should reflect on potential situations they may encounter in college and also be introduced to potential strategies for dealing with stereotypes and bias. Some resources include: ● ●

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First in the Family – Chapter 8: Who are you Now? Pg. 87 Chapter 8: Who are you now? Speak Up At School: How to Respond to Everyday Prejudice, Bias, and Stereotypes http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/general/Speak_Up_at_School.pdf (Written for schools and educators but has some great strategies for dealing with stereotypes and biases) I Too Am Harvard - http://itooamharvard.tumblr.com/ (use as a discussion resource) We Too Are Denison - https://www.facebook.com/WeTooAreDenison (use as a discussion resource) The Challenge of Being Poor at America’s Richest Colleges – Maggie McGrath, Forbes, November 27, 2013 - http://www.forbes.com/sites/maggiemcgrath/2013/11/27/thechallenge-of-being-poor-at-americas-richest-colleges/

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I Came to Duke With an Empty Wallet – Kelly Noel Waldorf, Duke Chronicle, November 2013 - http://www.dukechronicle.com/articles/2013/11/11/i-came-duke-empty-wallet Racial Microaggresions in Everyday Life, American Psychologist, May-June 2004 http://www.consumerstar.org/resources/pdf/RacialMicroaggressions.pdf Test Yourself for Hidden Biases - http://www.tolerance.org/activity/test-yourself-hiddenbias

4. Post or explain the definition of a stereotype: a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing 5. Either by walking around the four corners of the classroom or working independently on the handout, have students silently write five sentence reflections on each question. 6. Bring group back together to review questions as a whole group. 7. Collect and grade for completion.

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Diversity and Dominant System of Power: Personal Reaction to Diversity Teacher Posting for Gallery Walk

Identify some potential If someone on your college stereotypes or generalizations campus says or does that your future college something that makes you feel classmates or professors uncomfortable, how will you might make about you when react? List some potential your first meet them. strategies for dealing with this (Consider all dimensions of situation. diversity, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, geographic location etc.) What are some assumptions about others or potential biases you might bring to college with you next year? (Consider all dimensions of diversity, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, geographic, location etc.)

How can you keep these assumptions and potential biases in check? List some potential strategies.

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ANSWER KEY & TEACHER GUIDE

1. Identify some potential stereotypes or generalizations that your future college classmates or professors might make about you when your first meet them. (Consider all dimensions of diversity, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, geographic location, physical appearance etc.) Here students can list some assumptions or stereotypes that might be made about them at their future school. They should use prior experiences as well as any readings to help them brainstorm and predict situations they may face.

2. If someone on your college campus says or does something that makes you feel uncomfortable, how will you react? List some potential strategies for dealing with this situation. Students can use the some of the strategies discussed in class. The Speak Up at School resource is great for planning potential strategies. Students should be able to describe specifically how they might deal with an uncomfortable situation.

3. What are some assumptions about others or potential biases you might bring to college with you next year? (Consider all dimensions of diversity, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, geographic location, physical appearance etc.) Students should push themselves and reflect on some specific assumptions/biases they might bring with them to college and list them here. The Test Yourself for Hidden Bias resource above may be helpful for students to reflect on their hidden biases.

4. How can you keep these assumptions and potential biases in check? List some potential strategies. Students should list some strategies for checking their own potential biases and stereotypes. For example, accepting that they may have some assumptions, listening to others experiences before judging, keeping an open mind, connecting with different groups of people, etc.

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Diversity and Dominant System of Power: Personal Reaction to Diversity Student Handout

Student Name:

Date:

Instructions: Answer each question in five sentences 1. Identify some potential stereotypes or generalizations that your future college classmates or professors might make about you when your first meet them. (Consider all dimensions of diversity, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, geographic location etc.)

2. If someone on your college campus says or does something that makes you feel uncomfortable, how will you react? List some potential strategies for dealing with this situation.

3. What are some assumptions about others or potential biases you might bring to college with you next year? (Consider all dimensions of diversity, gender, race, age, sexual orientation, geographic, location etc.)

4. How can you keep these assumptions and potential biases in check? List some potential strategies.

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