Safe Space vs Brave Space
Encouraging tough-topic discussions, IG captions, and diversity databases
IN THE MARGINS
Safe Space vs Brave space
As societies shift, so do the topics discussed in public places, academia, and workplaces. What was taboo years ago, may now be dinner conversation. In the U.S., the shift toward discussing complex and emotionally charged topics such as social justice has created the need to change the environments these conversations are held in.
Schools, offices, and political forums, have recently tried to create “safe spaces”. A “safe space”, online or in-person, is intended to honor tolerance, feel supportive, be respectful, and limit judgment based on identity or experience. It encourages underrepresented voices to share their experiences and communicate their needs without fear of repercussion and without the pressure to educate.
The critique of “safe spaces” is that it shields people from offensive viewpoints and is at odds with the free exchange of ideas. I personally think that’s bullshit and a veiled way of saying “we want to be jerks and you won’t let us” but that’s a debate for another day. My personal critique of “safe spaces” is that the underrepresented are just tolerated. Just because someone isn’t actively disrespecting you, doesn’t mean that you feel welcome.
Maybe it can be taken a step further to become a “brave space”: where uncomfortable, but respectful, dialogue is welcomed and encouraged because of the transformative power facing that discomfort can have. A “brave space” allows for people to be vulnerable in the learning experience and everyone actively, and equitably, participates. It recognizes differences, and privilege, while holding everyone accountable for doing the work to come to new understandings. A “brave space” can be where underrepresented feel more comfortable showing up as their full selves.
I think there is room for both. I’m not a fan of people forcing people to share their trauma for the sake of the progress of others, but I do think more authentic and impactful experiences happen when there is more honesty - no matter how uncomfortable.
Below are some ground rules for creating brave spaces in facilitation and education that I think I will dive deeper into to see if I can incorporate them in my business and events:
Agree to disagree aka controversy with civility
Owning intentions and impacts
Challenge by choice
Respect
No attacks
Any way we can create more connection, the better.
Resources:
“From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces: A New Way to Frame Dialogue Around Diversity and Social Justice”
NASPA, 2017. pp. 3-4
"Safe Spaces, Brave Spaces: Diversity and Free Expression in Education" by John Palfrey
ACCESSIBILITY
Captioning Instagram Videos
There are a bunch of tools to caption your Instagram videos (which I’ll make a whole edition for) but if you want to stay in the FB/IG family, you can use IG’s app Threads. Intended to be a standalone messaging app, many also use it for its accessibility feature.
You can be cruising to captioning in 3 steps:
Record your video or upload one already on your phone
Let the auto-generated captions do their thing. They won’t be perfect but you can easily edit them before publishing your video.
If you have any captioning questions, just hit “reply” and ask :)
DIVERSITY & INCLUSION
Databases of Diversity 1.0
Increased public awareness of calls for social justice create an increase in educational resources. Sharing diversity-focused networks can keep this information visible beyond trending hashtags as well as increase access and create collaborations.
Since diversity goes beyond ethnicity (such as BAME* or BIPOC*), other elements should be considered such as ability, socio-economic status, or gender expression.
If you make a business connection with someone via these networks, remember that when working with, or hiring, someone from a MAUC*, don't just check the diversity box. Meeting the requirement won’t mean much if the environment the person is brought into isn’t supportive in a variety of ways such as career growth, equal pay and say, and holding co-workers accountable for being shitty (racist, homophobic, ableist, etc).
From “Filipinos Who Design” to “Writers of Color”, this is just part one of and on-going collection that will cover art/design, writing/publishing, podcasts, STEM*, and more!
Definitions
BAME: Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnicities
BIPOC: Black, Indigenous, People of Color
MAUC: Marginalized and Underrepresented Community
STEM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math
See the list of diversity databases
ART & DESIGN
The Art of Pixel Type
With pixel art back in trend, the book "Arcade Game Typography" by Toshi Omagari, is such a great way for video gamer designers to geek out. Pre-1990s, video game designers faced color and resolution limitations that stimulated incredible creativity. This book presents typefaces on a dynamic and decorative grid, taking reference from high-end type specimens while adding a suitably playful twist.
Buy the book and get nostalgic
HEARD IN THE HALLWAYS
Gabrielle (@gab.md) calling 'em out. Let's hold them accountable!
Signing off from the Starship SBLTN,
Laneen
Pronouns: they/them/theirs, she/her/hers
🎧 Listening - Nirvana playlist in honor of Kurt's birthday (20 Feb)
💬 Quote - "And I, too, wanted to be. That is all I wanted" - Jean-Paul Sartre book Nausea
📖 Reading - Thread on the cloning of a ferret from an endangered species
👀 Watching - Frozen blood daggers from SubZero in the Mortal Kombat film trailer