Take Part in Race Equality Week - Day 2

Without realising it, could you be saying things (as banter), that could actually hurt others or make them feel unwanted?

Today, there is just one eye-opener question for you to consider as well as a short video before thinking about what actions you could commit to.

The Vale of Glamorgan Council was awarded the prestigious Race Equality Matters Trailblazer status in recognition of our work to address racial inequality through the creation of Safe Spaces.

Safe Spaces is a Race Equality Matters innovation that provides protected environments in which people who might otherwise be too uncomfortable can have frank conversations on this subject.

A second Safe Space meeting was held in December and an action plan will soon be shared to ensure the good work continues and the Council maintains its progress in becoming a more diverse, inclusive, and equal organisation.

For more information about Safe Space and the Trailblazer accolade, visit the Race Equality Matters website.

So today’s challenge:

• Eye-Opener Question

  Have you ever justified using specific language or saying things (that might be offensive to some) because someone told you it doesn’t bother them?

   

  • Never
  • Once or twice
  • A fair few times
  • A good number of times
  • All the time

  

• Video 

  So, what is a microaggression and why is it a problem?

   

  Watch this video to find out:

   

   

  When interviewed by Race Equality Matters, 95% of Race Network Leaders, D&I and race experts from ethnically diverse backgrounds had experienced microaggressions, and the figures have remained consistent in the past two years.

• Action

  If you have justified using language or saying things that might be offensive, what could you do to change this? Ideas:

   

  • Take time to learn more about microaggressions
  • Be aware of any biases you have and the language you use
  • Call out microaggressions when you hear them
  • Educate your teams and colleagues
  • Could you participate in reciprocal mentoring?
  • Could you challenge language to create a learning moment for others?
  • Is there someone who could act as a coach and discuss the issue with you?

   

  What action will you take?

• Additional Resources 

  If you are interested and would like to find out more, click one of the links below.

   

  1. www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1756083/10-microaggressions-black-women-experience-work- %E2%80%93-hr-put-stop 

   

  2. https://hbr.org/2020/07/youve-been-called-out-for-a-microaggression-what-do-you-do
  
  

  3. https://rightasrain.uwmedicine.org/life/relationships/microaggressions
  
  

  4. https://www.cultureamp.com/blog/microaggressions-at-work