Why I’m a White Person Inhabiting the Space of Intersectional Design
Image is a black and white photo of a group of people wearing masks at a protest in an urban environment. The people are holding signs related to the black lives matter protests of 2020. The focal subject is a sign that reads in bold black text on a white background: I understand that I will never understand. However, I stand.
Because I have privilege.
As a white person, I’m fortunate enough to not have to face many of the hurdles and audacity that my black, indigenous, and POC peers have been forced to.
As an able-bodied person with mild neuro-divergences, I’ve had little physical obstacles that have prevented me from getting what I want or experiencing what life has to offer.
As a non-binary, femme-presenting member of the LGBT+ community, I’ve questioned my sexuality, had it questioned by others, and have struggled with openly speaking of it. And while I do a really great job at being straight-passing I’m educating myself on the history that the community has had to overcome.
As a human with a voice I can use it to express gd my privilege and hopefully do something good with it! Like, speak up for my own experiences that have made me both tired of the bs and empathetic and speak up for — not on behalf of — those who don’t necessarily need our sympathy but do need our action.
It’s not that they need someone like me to speak up for them (there are others out there that I think are doing a much better and efficient job — a future blog highlighting them!). But when the system continues to ignore and disenfranchise those they consider the minority or “other” then it is up to us who are able to participate in the system to take action and change or outright dismantle the system that feels that one human is beneath another.
This is a space that aligns with my own passions, what I’m good at, what the world needs — and yes, I can be paid for it too. My ikigai/purpose/woo-woo-what-have-you.
My intersectional design lies at the heart of sustainability, accessibility, and inclusiveness, with a healthy fuckin’ dose of anti-establishment punk rock and aggressive empathy! And that practice is also totally able to be called out and educated because this work is rarely perfect out the gate.
I am a white person inhabiting the space of Intersectional Design because I have privilege and I intend to use it to make a difference where I can when others can’t.
So, while I continue to educate myself on intersectional design and be an activist in it I want to encourage whoever finds this to look at your work, business, organization, or design practice and ask yourself where you sit in the space of intersectionality!
If you got some ideas that could use some collaboration in this space of sustainable design, accessibility design, or ethical brand strategy, then visit my website, reach out, visit Instagram or Facebook, and let’s get something started together!
