The power of privilege
Module 10
Training notes
This is probably the most uncomfortable module in the training program because it challenges us all to examine the inherited, and often unconscious privileges we bring to our work and how these impact other people. We also discuss discrimination that we experience and how that makes us feel. Facilitators need to feel comfortable talking with participants about their privilege and the discomfort they may feel about this.
Aims
The module aims to challenge us all to examine and acknowledge the privileges which we bring into the field, and to identify how to use, and not abuse them.
Suggested timing for the module
It will take about 30 minutes to an hour to introduce the material, and then 90 minutes to complete the exercises. Applying the material to our work is an ongoing challenge!
Privilege – A useful definition
Privilege is unearned access or advantages granted to specific groups of people because of their membership in a social group. Privilege can be based on a variety of social identities such as skin colour, race, gender, religion, socioeconomic status, ability status, sexuality, age, education level and more.
PowerPoint slides
This PowerPoint presentation will take the group through the rationale for the module, and introduce the tools and exercises. Do as many of the exercises as can be accommodated in the time available, preferably using real life examples. Please familiarise yourself with the background readings before presenting the slides.
Tools and exercises
If as facilitator, you are really not comfortable with the idea of running these exercises, give the participants the reading materials, and ask them to discuss them in small groups.
These exercises can be used when working with community groups and service provider networks, to gain their insights.
Depending on the groups with whom you are working you can use just one or all three of the exercises. It can be very empowering for refugee communities to hear those with many privileges and power over them acknowledge that this is the case.
It is also important that refugee communities acknowledge that there is a hierarchy of power and privilege within all communities and that they also need to be willing to share power.
Take your findings from this exercise forward into your strategic planning.
This can be an uncomfortable session for both participants and facilitators. It is therefore essential that you are well prepared and have sufficient time to ensure that you establish a culturally safe environment. If as facilitator, you are really not comfortable with the idea of running these exercises, give the participants the reading materials, and ask them to discuss them in small groups.
Exercise 1 - The privilege walk
Exercise 2 - Identifying our personal privilege and discriminations we might sufferÂ
- Identifying privilege and discrimination: Word version
- Identifying privilege and discrimination: PDF version