Appreciating the Complexity of Identity

Padma is excited to learn that her new next-door neighbor, Maya, is also a woman of color with lineage from the same region of India. Padma has felt lonely and isolated in her predominately white neighborhood and is relieved to hear that she will share her community with someone who has a similar background.

Breanne is out to lunch with her close friend Mark. As they are catching up, Breanne shares enthusiastically about a shared acquaintance, Tim, whom she thinks is a perfect match for Mark. Encourages Mark to initiate a first date.

Mark interrupts Breanne to share that while they are both gay, they actually have very little in common and the differences between them are much more salient than their shared experience as gay men. Mark assures Breanne that he and Tim get along fine, and while there is no tension, there is also no attraction.

James is a staff member in the library reference center. He works in an open office setting with several colleagues. James’ workstation is adjacent to his colleague Yosef, whom he has been trying for some time to form a personal relationship.

Lydia serves as a receptionist at the university’s general information desk located in the central administration building. Lydia enjoys her job and prides herself on being able to connect students to information and resources quickly and efficiently. As such, Lydia attempts to intuit and anticipate students’ needs as quickly as possible. A consequence of her enthusiasm is that Lydia often asks questions or makes statements that are assuming of students’ identities and her assumptions are often grounded in stereotypes.

Mari is an assistant vice president for information services responsible for the oversight of Banner, the institution-wide student records system. Banner collects comprehensive data from students at the time of admission and feeds numerous online tools throughout the university, including learning management systems, student health records and academic records.

Don, an associate director in enrollment management, is responsible for a team of five professionals and more than a dozen student workers. Don receives feedback from one of his direct reports that his heavy reliance on personal anecdotes about his childhood and extended family to illustrate concepts or communicate the organization’s mission and vision is at times confusing or disengaging – and not often relatable for people of color on the team.

Ben is a graduate student in anthropology who is analyzing data from a pilot study for his master's thesis. Ben’s study explores the adaptation of indigenous peoples living on the Oregon Coast to changes in state land and water use policies. After reviewing a preliminary draft, his advisor, Lani, shares concerns about the sweeping and simplified nature of his analysis and conclusions. Lani suggests that more time and energy is needed on Ben’s part to examine the influence and impact of his own positionality in the research.

Amir, who is research faculty in bioengineering, receives revisions from the Institutional Review Board (IRB) on his survey design. Among the critiques, the IRB shared concerns about the design of his demographic items, specifically the items that solicit information about participants’ gender identity and sexual orientation. The IRB reviewer asserted that the current items are not resonant with how contemporary Queer and Trans folk articulate their experiences and made recommendations for elaborated items, including open-ended responses.

Daryl, an Associate Professor in Public Health, is teaching a newly designed course on LGBTQ health and wellness. Just before midterms, Meleani, the undergraduate teaching assistant, approaches Daryl to summarize several of their students’ concerns. She shares that the students are regarding the course readings, lecture and subsequent class discussion as having an exclusive emphasis on the health and wellness of white LGBTQ people, with no exploration and discussion of the unique needs of LGBTQ people of color.