self-care
CYCS 1055- EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICES
Self Reflection Paper Due November 3rd, 2021
25% of Final Grade Critical Self Reflection and Anti-oppressive Systemic change Any systemic change starts with the self. We need to learn and reflect on the ‘isms (racism, sexism, cissexism, ableism, sanism and others) and how these constructs impact our life and the lives of those around us. It is important to reflect on our own identities and implicit biases and make choices (however small) toward being anti-oppressive. Being anti-oppressive is not about who we say we are, it is about what we do. Critical self -reflection is a process of “meaning making”, it is one of the first actions we can engage in to
develop as anti-oppressive CYC practitioners. When we are critical, we are thinking about what we have
learned or understood, why it matters and how it will change us. When we engage in critical self reflection, we
turn these questions inward. We ask ourselves, “what do I know or understand about myself?”, “why does it
matter to me?” and “how will it change who I am?”
Instructions: Below are several questions that are helpful to reflect on when doing anti-oppressive work. You are
encouraged to reflect on all of them. For this assignment, choose any 3 and respond critically.
Reflective Questions:
1. Choose one social identity (social location) discussed in class that you identify with. When were you first aware of this identity? What different kinds of oppression have you experienced or observed in relation to this location? Provide one (1) clear example to support your answer
2. In what ways do you have more privilege compared to others? What ways do you have less privilege compared to others? Provide examples to support your response.
3. Identify a time when you committed, witnessed or experienced an oppressive act (e.g. micro- aggression, micro-insult, micro-assault etc.) what was your reaction? What would you change about your reaction based on what you have learned in the course?
4. Identify 2 different unearned privileges that you have (e.g., race, class, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability, etc.). In what ways do you benefit from those privileges in your personal and academic life?
5. White supremacy is not only about dominance it is also about normalizing whiteness. Can you think about ways that white culture has been normalized? Identify 2-3 examples and provide one (1) example of how you have participated in making whiteness “normal”?
6. What feelings or behaviour do you have or exhibit when discussing issues of race and oppression? What do you think is causing those feelings? Which feelings or behaviours help the discussion, and which might derail the discussion. Identify one (1) strategy you can use when derailing feelings and/or behaviours appear.
CYCS 1055- EQUITY, INCLUSION AND ANTI-OPPRESSIVE PRACTICES
Submission Guidelines:
This paper must be submitted with a title page. This title page must be formatted using APA 7th edition
guidelines (for information about APA please see the link below or contact George Brown Library)
https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/research_and_citation/apa_style/apa_formatting_and_style_guide/apa_changes_
7th_edition.html
Your reflection paper must be double spaced, size 11 or 12 font. The recommended length for this paper is 3-4
pages, not including the title page. Your responses can be in question /answer format but must be in paragraph
form. Questions are not included in the page count.
Please submit via the blackboard by 11:59pm on your assigned due date. This paper is considered late if submitted after the due date and is subject to a 10% late deduction per day.
*Please review rubric posted to blackboard for specific writing expectations and grading details