As part of our Inclusive Language Series, we introduced terms and resources to promote mutual learning and to create more inclusive communities. This week we are reflecting on the terms we introduced this semester and will provide you with an opportunity to reflect on what you have learned through this series. If you have enjoyed reading this series, we also encourage you to share this newsletter with a peer.
We shared the following terms with you:
- Learning and Unlearning without Guilt
- Cultural Appreciation vs Cultural Appropriation
- Citizenship and Voting
- Indigenous Terms
- Gender Pronouns
- What Allyship Is and Isn’t
- Radical Empathy
We recognize that this doesn’t even begin to cover half of the terms or identities that exist, but this is only the beginning of an ongoing conversation. We look forward to introducing more terms this spring and continuing our work supporting inclusive communities. Now that we have taken time to reflect on the terms we explored this semester, we encourage you to take some time to reflect on what you have learned about yourself and others through this newsletter series. Please utilize the reflection questions listed below to do this.
Reflection Questions:
- Is there an identity or term that you would like to learn more about?
- Is there a term you would like for others to further explore? What are ways you can proactively create opportunities for learning?
- What are ways you have challenged yourself to become more aware of issues that disproportionately affect some identities over others? If you can’t think of any examples from this semester, what are some ways that you can challenge yourself in the future?
- What were your main takeaways from the Inclusive Language Series articles you read? How do you plan to incorporate what you learned into your everyday life?
Learning about identity is an ongoing journey that doesn’t have an end destination. There will always be something new to learn or unlearn, and that’s okay. This learning requires vulnerability because you are going to make mistakes along the way. The most powerful thing you can do is turn those mistakes into moments of learning in order to be better and do better down the road. We plan to continue the Inclusive Language Series in the Spring 2025 semester. We encourage everyone to keep learning and growing in the meantime. As a disclaimer, it’s important to consider the source of your learning. You should never be learning (intentionally) at the expense of someone with a marginalized identity. If you want to learn, there are many spaces that exist for that very purpose. A quick internet search does wonders. Thank you for engaging with us this semester, take care!
Upcoming Holidays & Observances
12/10/2024: Human Rights Day – On this day in 1948 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
12/12/2024: Our Lady of Guadalupe (Christian) – Celebrates the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary (by her title, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of Mexico and the Americas) before Juan Diego, an indigenous convert to Roman Catholicism, on the Mexican hill of Tepeyac in 1531.
12/13/2024: St. Lucia’s Day (Christian) – a religious festival of light in Scandinavia and Italy commemorating the martyrdom of St. Lucia, a young Christian girl who was killed for her faith in 304 CE.
12/15/2024: Bill of Rights Day – Commemorates the signing into law of the ten original amendments of the United States Constitution in 1791.
12/16/2024 – 12/24/2024: Las Posadas (Catholic) – a nine-day celebration in Mexico commemorating the trials Mary and Joseph endured during their journey to Bethlehem.