Jessica Pettitt: social justice is not the same thing as diversity

On Thursday, January 12 there was a training for student leaders and staff entitled, "Social Justice: When Diversity Isn't Enough" in the JTR Student Commons presented by guest speaker Jessica Pettitt. The training was followed by a keynote in the James A. Milgard Family Assembly Room. The purpose of the training was to open up students and staff to have conversations about real issues. Pettitt stressed the importance of creating a space to have these conversations.

Student leaders engaged in an activity where they divided into groups. The groups were then given slips of paper with different characteristics on them. They were told that the fourteen slips of paper represented people. They were also given a piece of paper with a boat drawn on it. They were told that the boat had ten seats and they had to make a plan for who would be able to get on the boat, as everyone was standing on the roof of a building and the water level was rising. The groups were given about five minutes to make their decisions. One group didn't even look at the slips of paper and blindly selected one each that would not make it onto the boat, while the other two groups tried to strategize about who to take and who to leave behind.

After the activity Pettitt discussed what her experience had been with other groups who participated in the activity in the past. She also explained that there was a real difference between social justice and diversity. That they were very different things. Pettitt explained diversity as being the stuff that's outside of you, having conversations, food, travel, etc. "It's not just race or class or age or ability. Diversity is about different experiences. Not everybody has your experience," she said.

"In order to do social justice work, it's about knowing who you are," said Pettitt.

To be able to be self reflective about how you use power and responsibility informs your ability to be socially just. Self awareness is at the heart of social justice. Pettitt said we all carry our own unique biases and to, "just remember that the biases are there and be very aware of them."

 Pettitt then asked, "How many of you actually sat in the fact that you're receiving a college education?"

Pettitt said, "I believe that these biases are the norm and that's why nothing has changed. If we can recognize that we all make judgments and assumptions then we are normal. There is no right."

Pettitt went on to say that these biases exist as part of the social experience. She gave the example of a fetus kid who lived in a room with a one-way glass window for their whole life and never interacted or even saw another human being. "Once they are out in the world, within minutes they will learn these biases," Pettitt said.

One way of living with these biases is to, "listen to everyone around you like you can learn something from them. Unify around the fact that this is a perplexing situation. We just need to actually listen to each other and not worry about titles. To be prepared to be wrong and to learn. Being available and being authentic can help you to navigate a vulnerable conversation," said Pettitt.

During the keynote, Pettitt continued her earlier message by stating, "Most of us don't question what we believe in. We believe in it because that's what we believe, but if you can figure out why you believe, that belief becomes fundamental."

There is often a problem in human interaction of trying to recruit people to work with you. Pettitt said, "I can't make anybody do anything, but what I can do is live my life by what I truly believe. People join people, not beliefs."

Pettitt also talked about "Mother Teresa days," as she termed them, which are days that everyone needs to clock out and readjust themselves. "Guilt and shame is part of being off the clock," Pettitt said.

Pettitt used Ghandi as an example of common misconception. The concept of nonviolent civil disobedience sprang out of domestic violence. Ghandi beat his wife.