Checking-In: Where do I fit in?
Before starting any project, take a moment to think about who you are and how that shapes your perspective. Your age, gender, background, and where you live all influence how you see the world - and how the world sees you.
These differences create both advantages and challenges:
Privilege gives certain opportunities - sometimes earned, sometimes just given.
Disadvantage means facing more barriers or having fewer opportunities.
Oppression happens when a group is repeatedly treated unfairly or excluded.
But no one’s experience is just one thing - you can have privilege in some areas and struggles in others.
Self-reflection matters, whether you're leading the project or just joining. Understanding where you stand helps create a space where everyone feels valued.
Understanding Identity
Identity is what makes you you - your race, gender, background, income, and more. These things don’t exist in isolation; they connect and shape how we experience the world.
This is called an intersectional approach - looking at the bigger picture of how different aspects of identity come together. As writer Audre Lorde said, "There is no such thing as a single-issue struggle because we do not live single-issue lives."
For example, how someone is treated at school or in healthcare isn’t just about one factor - it’s influenced by who they are, where they’re from, and how society sees them.
These conversations can feel uncomfortable, and that’s okay. Discomfort often means growth. Challenging ourselves to see new perspectives is how real change begins.
Reflection Activity: What Shapes Your Identity?
Think about the different parts of who you are - your background, gender, culture, experiences, and more. These aspects don’t exist separately; they overlap and shape how you experience the world.
Draw a flower with different petals, where each petal represents a part of your identity.
This could include things like your culture, gender, race, hobbies, religion, relationships, or anything else that feels important to who you are. Which ones feel most important to you? How do they connect?
Checking In:
After exploring your identity, take a moment to reflect:
Which parts of your identity came to mind first?
Which were harder to think about?
What aspects of identity would you like to learn more about?
Which parts of your identity shape how you see yourself the most?
Which have the biggest impact on how you see others?
For more interactive check-in activities exploring individual power and identity, please click the link here: https://shorturl.at/2GFdU