Friday Five: Celebrating Diversity
Research shows that when people are chronically treated differently, unfairly, or badly, it can have long term effects ranging from low self-esteem to increased risk for developing stress-related disorders like anxiety and depression. Elevate Counseling is committed to delving into hard or uncomfortable conversations (after all, that’s often what therapy is about!). And because allyship and understanding require actionable strategies, open conversations, and serious self-reflection, today we’re sharing our favorite resources to help you and your family have open, mindful discussions that align with your personal values.
Is it possible to enjoy a movie and a message? Definitely, with these family movies celebrating diversity. This list has a number of classics, with some new favorites among the list as well! (familyminded.com)
We COMMUNICATE about race whether we choose to TALK about it or not. Difficult conversations can feel uncomfortable, but they often lead to growth opportunities for everyone involved. Talking To Your Kids About Racism (unicef)
While many LGBTQ youth are happy and thriving, others face challenges in their schools and at home because of their sexuality. That’s why it’s so important to have allies — people who are not LGBTQ but who support, respect, and advocate for those who are. How To Raise Your Kids To Be Allies To Their LGBTQ Peers (mom.com)
Test Yourself For Hidden Bias: The ability to distinguish and categorize friend from foe was evolutionarily adaptive and, in part, an unconscious fundamental quality of the human mind. But unconscious shortcuts can lead to inaccurate or discriminatory conclusions. Research shows that people can be consciously committed to egalitarianism, and deliberately work to behave without prejudice, yet still possess hidden negative prejudices or stereotypes. In other words, hidden biases can reveal themselves in our actions, especially when our efforts to control behavior consciously flags under stress, distraction, relaxation, or competition. Psychologists at Harvard, UVA, and UW created “Project Implicit” to develop Hidden Bias Tests—called Implicit Association Tests, or IATs, in the academic world—to measure unconscious bias. Curious about your own unconscious bias? Test yourself for hidden bias. By becoming aware of our own implicit bias, we can make more concerted efforts to modify our behavior. After all, how could we change if we can’t see our blind spots? (tolerance.org and Harvard)
Check out this video series entitled Conversations on Race, by The New York Times, featuring interviews with people of diverse backgrounds discussing the inherent challenges of racial and ethnic identities. (New York Times)
