MODULE 5 DEI
This discussion will help us get to know one another, as well as provide an introduction to the course content.
After reading and viewing the LinkedIn training, reflect on situations related to DEISJ you have either observed or been a part of that left you with a feeling of uncertainty. Consider any training you have engaged in regarding DEISJ in an employment or educational setting, as well as the LinkedIn training.
Compose a discussion post including:
Your name and what you prefer to be called
A brief description of the situation that made you uncomfortable or unsure
A short description of DEISJ training you have completed as part of your employment or as a student. Include your evaluation of this training – was it engaging, helpful, at the correct level? Did it leave you with questions or feeling like you wondered what to do with the information?
How did knowledge gained from school/work training and/or the LinkedIn training impact the situation, or how might it have been helpful?
After completing the reading, training, identify at least one vocabulary word related to DEISJ and why it is important. Include the word and why you chose it in your discussion post, and also add it to our Glossary.
Respond to two classmates using evidence with a response that adds to the discussion by either expanding on a point they made or providing a different viewpoint.
Janelle Candelario posted May 22, 2024 1:16 PM
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Hello everyone,
My name is Janelle and that is what I usually go by. A situation that made me feel uncomfortable was actually a recent experience and it was during a home care visit. Upon arriving at the family’s home, the parent began to engage in conversation with me. They expressed relief that I was younger and commented negatively about the previous nurses who had been assigned to their child’s care, describing them as “too old” and “out of touch.” Despite the parent’s seemingly complimentary attitude towards my age, I felt very uncomfortable. The nurses they were criticizing were my coworkers, dedicated and professional with many years of experience. Their remarks about the older nurses abilities and relevance made me feel uneasy and placed me in a very difficult position as they only wanted me to be the nurse and didn’t want any of the “old” nurses to come back.
The knowledge gained from work training did impact the situation in that I was able to pick out discrimination. This awareness allowed me to recognize that the parent’s comments were not just casual remarks but were bias against older nurses. I was able to steer the conversations to a more positive/respectful tone emphasizing the value of experience.
As part of my employment, I have completed courses on DEISJ training. These training sessions have covered crucial topics such as biases in the workplace . I don't ever really find the training to be engaging, the majority of the time they leave me bored however I understand the importance of it. I found instructor Mary from the LinkedIn course to be more interesting. She discussed the difference between equity and equality. My one vocabulary word I have chosen related to DEISJ is “equality.” She defines equality by looking back at The Civil Right Act of 1964 which states “The Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin. Provisions of this civil rights act forbade discrimination on the basis of sex, as well as, race in hiring, promoting, and firing, The Act prohibited discrimination in public accommodations and federally funded programs. It also strengthened the enforcement of voting rights and the desegregation of schools.” She mentions it now includes the LGBTQ. Equality is interpreted as treating everyone the same.
My name is Hyojong (hyo·jung) but I go by Rachel.
I recall a time at work when colleagues were making racist jokes. I will not go into detail about what the joke was, but I felt uncomfortable and disgruntled that we go through annual compliance training to avoid situations like these, yet we see these scenarios play out in our everyday lives.
I am required to complete compliance training at work every year and the modules include DEISJ topics. It is indeed engaging and informative as it instructs new employees and reminds current employees why we are called to uphold and respect DEISJ. There is even one module where you have to drag a red flag onto the screen every time you notice an inappropriate comment made by the actors playing as a manager and/or colleague. I believe it is vital to enforce and educate people on DEISJ so that it will become an expected standard in this society.
Knowledge gained from the training taught me how to notice and react to these subtle micro-aggressive and inappropriate behaviors and comments, and how to regulate my emotions to respond cooly and professionally. In the example I provided earlier with my coworkers making racist jokes at work, I was able to speak up and inform them that jokes like that aren’t funny or appropriate for the workplace, rather than snapping and reacting emotionally towards them.
I chose the word, abundance mindset. The LinkedIn module: Equity First: The Path to Inclusion and Belonging defined the word as when you “genuinely care about the humanity inherent in every single person, and understand that their existence enhances, not diminishes, our own.” I chose this word because it embodies why we should and are expected to honor DEISJ in this society. Living in an individualistic society with high tendencies of scarcity mindset, we tend to focus on ourselves and calculate our losses when servicing or helping other people. It is important to extend empathy and compassion without counting the losses and move towards a more equitable and inclusive society.
