Santa Monica College Skill of Self Reflection Using an Intersectional Framework Paper

Prompt: Write a (600-700 word) self-reflection that introduces yourself as a member of multiple groups (racial, ethnic, class, gender, sexuality, age, etc). Follow the instructions and paragraph outline below to demonstrate your understanding of an intersectional analysis.

Getting Started:

• Think of this assignment as an extension of the PERSONAL introduction essay you wrote at the beginning of the class. Review your personal introduction, and think about how this assignment might spring from something you said in that essay.
• Think about this assignment as a stepping stone to your final Critical Thinking essay in which you will define critical thinking based on what you have learned in this course and illustrate what critical thinking means to you by analyzing and taking a stand on a civic problem that matters to you, e.g. economic inequality, voter apathy, voter suppression, violence in public schools, climate change denial, hyperpolarization, trolling on social media, etc.

Characteristics of a strong self-reflection from an intersectional framework:

1. Courageously & authentically accept the challenge of the Socratic imperative, “know thyself.”
2. Mitigate cognitive biases which keep you from acknowledging your blind spots.
3. Examine your social identity from both a member of an oppressed group AND a member of a privileged group.
4. Contextualize your social identity by reference to places, events, and movements which have influenced you.

Instructions: Follow this process to compose your self-reflection

1. Watch and take notes for your self-reflection: http://whitenessproject.org/millennials (Links to an external site.)
2. Brainstorm & free-write using the following prompts:

· The part of my identity that I am most aware of on a daily basis is _________.
· The part of my identity that I feel others most often identity with me is __________.
· The part of my identity that I feel gives me the most privilege is __________.
· The part of my identity that I feel empowers me the most is __________.
· The part of my identity that makes me feel uncomfortable at times is __________.
· The part of my identity that I feel I am least aware of is _________.
· When serving in the community, the part of my identity that I am most aware of is_________.

SOURCE: Exploring Diversity & Intersectionality (Links to an external site.)

1. Discuss your insights from your free-write with a friend or classmate.
2. Write a first draft using the paragraph outline below.
3. Read aloud to your friend or classmate to see what feels authentic and what feels forced or uncomfortable.

PARAGRAPH OUTLINE:

1. What makes it difficult to reflect on your social identity from an intersectional perspective and why is it beneficial as a critical thinker to do so?
2. Write a paragraph about how you identify in terms of race or ethnicity
3. Write a paragraph about how you identify in terms of gender
4. Write a paragraph about how you identify in terms of social class
5. Write a paragraph about another important dimension of your social identity, e.g. religion, sexuality, disability, nationality, etc.
6. Explain how your social identity influences how you look at things as a critical thinker.
7. Explain how your social identity might inform a civic issue about which you feel strongly.