Tag: Kate Mehne

Final Project

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For my final project, I created an infographic poster about understanding intersectionality, thinking intersectionality, and avoiding bias. Again, my key audience would be young adults or college students.

The perfect scenario where my work would be seen would be in an elevator going to class or waiting in a hallway, where students actually have the time to read something and engage with it. Although intersectionality and bias are such important subjects that do not just deserve to be delivered on a poster, I realized it would be an excellent start when it comes to educating. So many peers are not fully aware of intersectionality’s implications, and if my poster could help some further their thinking and knowledge, I believe I did my job correctly.

Not only did I display information and graphics, but a QR code and more sources for students to look up to learn more information. Thanks to Julia and Edward’s advice, this QR code allows students to go to a website called “Bias Hurts,” which involves real accounts from oppressed people engaging in a real-life conversation. I felt that this was very effective to include, and I hope that you do too.

Unit 3 Reflection

When it comes to deciding what to focus on within the larger body of material in unit 2, I found it reasonably trouble-free. While doing my work for Unit 2, there were gaps I found throughout various sources. The most significant gap I saw was the lack of a simple explanation for defining terms. Most sources quickly jumped into more complex analysis when I wanted to find clear and straightforward sources that created a foundation. I knew that for Unit 3, I would discover background, essential information for people my age. This way, a further complex analysis could eventually be understood, and there could be room for educational growth.


The most important thing that I learned while researching for this project, in Units 2 and 3, was that if I wanted to propose precise, foundational work, I had to make my writing clear. Not only did I have to make it clear, but brief and straight to the point. However, I feel as if I did this, but it has always been a struggle that I still have to work towards. I found myself wanting to say so much, but since my infographic/ poster platform does not allow for much room, it was very challenging. I had to include the information that I felt was most important while scratching the data that did not present the same importance. This was very hard since my topic regarding intersectionality and bias is so important. However, thanks to my peers and Professor Oakes, I was able to learn some tricks. I could still include quotes from real people by implementing a QR code, which happened to work out better than including written quotations on the page.


Since my target audience was people my age, I did not have an issue with using a specific tone of voice. I wrote as if I usually would while also addressing the readers using “you” and “we”. I did this to not only keep my poster personable and relatable but to have readers intrigued. When someone talks directly to me, I am bound to listen, whereas if someone is talking to a group as a whole, I subconsciously feel less inclined to listen. I thought this was an interesting tactic because my work does speak to a whole while also directly talking to individuals within it. Writing for this platform felt more normal to me, and I might implement it in my work here at SU. I found it rewarding to engage with people my age and inform them on important issues and fun.


What I valued the most about this work was what I mentioned above, engaging from afar with people my age about critical subjects that tend to be overlooked. I loved it the most because I found a gap within all my sources and created one myself. I was always looking for a clear conception of information that could help develop a foundation, so I tried my hardest to make one myself. If I were not educated on intersectionality and bias, I believe my infographic poster would intrigue me, and I would surely educate myself even more after reading it. However, since I made it myself, this is “biased,” so I hope my students and peers can engage with it and learn from it. That is what is most important, I have found.

Project Draft- Intersectionality and Bias

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My Project Draft is not in a poster layout just yet. This is because I wanted to focus on my writing first and plan that out before focusing on graphics and visuals. However, when both are incorporated, I think the message will be even more compelling.

As noted before, my poster’s audience is students our age, who are usually pretty busy but find themselves passing the time in a hallway or elevator and can read and retain information. I believe our generation is crucial for who needs to learn about this topic and spread it. As a result, I may find myself cutting down some information when I lay out my poster since information should be briefer to be intrigued. That has been my struggle, but I am eager to get started on the final project and attempt to incorporate effective visuals and effective writing.

Discussion Week of 8/16

In this type of writing, its most influential and distinctive features would be stylized words that stand out over others. In this example, it would be, “Be An Ali”. The “A” in “ali” forms part of a wheelchair graphic. The poster demonstrates how to support those with disabilities and succumb to ableism and judgment. While stylized words look nice, the effective ones usually have a double meaning like this behind them. They are incorporated in a way that makes viewers remember the words and the special effects that go with them. In this specific example, this poster is linked for people to print out and put up as flyers, being pretty spot on when it comes to my desired genre.

This example works well because it is bold and clear and includes subtexts that encircle “Be An Ali”. To grab readers’ attention, there first needs to be the main subject displayed. When it comes to my topic, intersectionality and bias could get tricky since there are two. I am afraid readers won’t know where to look, become overwhelmed, and move on with their day, not retaining any information. So, my challenge will be to incorporate the two together and somehow display their co-existing features. Intersectionality and bias overlapped with my research, which I verbalized, which I now need to demonstrate graphically.

What I like about this poster the most is its simplicity. There is one main focus here, and subtext helps support it. Light graphics are an excellent addition, and I bet viewers would remember the poster more due to these. However, I do not believe this example is 100% successful. The simplicity is a little overdone, with words not very organized, just surrounding the poster’s title. Yes, they are categorized but with mini headings. For my poster, especially after viewing this one, I want to set up my words in a very strategic way. I am not sure yet what this entails, but I know graphics will be incorporated to tell a straightforward story to the viewer. Not only do I want this to be straightforward, but meaningful and impactful.

I also want certain subjects of text to bounce off of each other and connect. In this example, the text is written the same way bullet points would be. I want my bodies of text to co-exist with each other, presenting a cohesive overall body of text. There are a lot of design strategies that I have been brainstorming that I plan to experiment with. Being a design major myself, one of the most important things that I have learned and have continuously seen through successful design is that graphics have the power to spread a message sometimes more than words. With this graphic and text combination, I believe my poster could be compelling. I do not want to lose sight of one over the other but simultaneously incorporate the two to enhance each other.

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Project Proposal

For my project, I am interested in making a poster that involves graphics and critical information regarding avoiding bias and understanding the intersectional impact it can cause. This poster will be aimed towards college students or young adults, in hopes that their new knowledge can be positively brought into their future workplaces, as well as the lives of others. This critical age group can create significant change, but this can only start with a shared mutual foundation of insight and knowledge. I also believe many people my age aren’t aware of these concepts and how crucial they are. A colorful poster hung on the wall of a dorm or hall with highlights of information and links to sources to help further this knowledge would spark intrigue and awareness. Ultimately, the poster’s goal would be to make everyone more aware of what goes on around them, especially those seen as privileged and who do not personally experience oppression or marginalization. I believe that it is so easy for young adults that have it “good” to dismiss the daily lives of everyone around them. They tend not to realize that every negative action has personal implications that can affect someone in many ways. I would use the sources that I have gathered and sources that incorporate more of a conversation, similar to the one I hope to make. These could include other blog posts, including young adults’ perspectives and real personal accounts from people my age. I plan to map out my writing to connect and relate to students and see, hear, and acknowledge those that have not been.

Discussion Questions 8/9

Response to #1

In Mollie West’s “How To Create a Culture Manifesto for Your Organization (And Why It’s a Good Idea),” West gives amazing examples of companies that successfully implement their own “humanifestos”. She recognizes that companies usually acknowledge their external goals rather than internal and stresses that employees need to create a comfortable working environment that benefits all. West definitely did her research; she gathered three routes that three companies took and offered this insight to her readers. I assume that her target audience for this piece would be employees in a company of any size and higher executives that could implement this type of change and support. What works so well for West is that she talks directly to an audience. Although I am not an employee yet in a formal workplace, I felt directly spoken to regarding the future steps I should take in implementing an inclusive work environment. I believe this strategy is compelling because it makes the readers feel as if they have the capability to implement advances and growth. West uses another great rhetorical strategy to acknowledge that building a manifesto does not have to be hard and complicated but simple. She has told readers to sit down with their core team and start asking questions. She also mentioned that when discussing Warby Parker’s route that brainstorming sessions started their process. By keeping the encouraged processes simple and writing them simply, readers then have a sense of relatability. Parker’s simplicity, I assume, has made readers really believe that they can do the same as these larger companies. This is a very crucial tactic because it subconsciously creates a quicker response for readers. By really believing they can do it, quicker actions are made for their workforce. Parker’s “simplicity” or “straightforwardness” may seem effortless, when really the outcome creates real, physical effort.

Response to #2

When I created my research portfolio, I constantly thought of how many people my age needed to be aware of issues regarding intersectionality and bias. I felt as if I was educating people that already knew what I was talking about and would find myself defining intersectionality a lot. I then thought of a future scenario where I did not have to define intersectionality for people to understand. For my project, I really want to educate college students that will soon be headed into the real world, have a solid foundation for understanding intersectional issues, and how to avoid furthering them. To develop a genre of text or platform that people my age would really read and listen to, I have thought of what I am particularly drawn to.

I have read a lot of University Girl while being at Syracuse and reading posters on campus when I am waiting for an elevator or walking through a new campus building. So, I am still not sure yet, but I think a “relatable” blog post would work, or an informational poster targeted towards students. Not only do I think people my age need to understand these issues, but I think they are the real crucial audience. My age group will soon be joining the workforce and will need to bring insights into companies for change to be made. I believe it is harder to educate people who have been used to a certain way of life for so long and easier to create a new way of life for a new generation. The expectations regarding my work for this audience would be rather simple: clear writing that illustrates the problem, shorter text that incorporates an array of information clearly, with further resources linked to implementing further research and understanding. My goal would be for people my age to be really intrigued by this poster or post, quickly read substantial points of information and then acquire the interest on their own to do more research and education. Because for real change to be made, the individual needs to want to change and implement change.

Discussion Questions Week of 8/2

Response to #1

In the journal article, “Individual Change Won’t Create Gender Equality in Organizations,” written by Alison Wynn, a critical point is brought up regarding holding decision-makers accountable for reducing gender inequality within an organization. In Emilio J. Castilla’s article, she explores this idea. Castilla proposes that being more transparent when making pay decisions would reduce the pay gap by employee gender, race, and “foreign nationality.” Castilla delves into her study of reward decisions in the workplace, where she notes the introduction of new organizational procedures, accountability, and transparency has affected almost 9,000 employees positively. Before this, however, there was a large gap in “performance-based rewards” that resulted in unfairness towards women, who could also be ethnic minorities. They also received less money than men, who also happened to be citizens of the United States. Castilla notes that after attaining accountability and transparency, however, this gap was reduced.


I believe this approach is crucial for reducing gender inequality within organizations, and it adds to Wynn’s article perfectly because one wrong turn when it comes to being accountable and unbiased can cause vast marginalized intersectionality. When decision-makers decide to be biased and pay White men more, for example, women are oppressed. First, women are oppressed, but racist bias is brought into the picture when ethnic women are oppressed. Multiple biases then co-exist, backtracking greatly when it comes to reducing inequality. Although Castilla’s proposal initially involves gender inequality, it also simultaneously involves racial inequality as well. Many intersectional components of marginalization can be reversed when decision-makers are trained to be more transparent. By starting within an organization, employees and bosses can really look inward and not blame a larger picture for an easy “out.

Response to #2

In Wynn’s article, “Individual Change Won’t Create Gender Equality in Organizations,” I believe an employee or a person soon to have a higher position within a company would benefit the most from reading this article. I do not believe Wynn’s article is vague at all. Still, if it were directed towards executives within an organization, her tone would be more analytical, presenting more data and evidence that executives would understand. Wynn also subtly hints at a larger picture through her writing. People can not simply acknowledge that they are “good” but work together to change the structures that ultimately increase gender inequality. As cliché as it sounds, working together towards specific issues is crucial, and Wynn laid out these issues perfectly. Although not specifically written, I believe one of Wynn’s main points is that there needs to be a framework for an issue, or else people are not able to see the issue. In a TED talk I recently watched, Kimberlé Crenshaw said just this. If there is no framework (for example, a commonly seen issue regarding police violence against women), there is no priority for the injustice.


I believe Wynn is trying to open the eyes of future employees or new employees ahead of time. Although she focuses on gender inequality within the workplace, Wynn tries to set up solutions and a framework for all inequalities. Wynn notes, “These recommendations can help fight bias and inequality on many dimensions, beyond just gender. While my research specifically focused on a gender equality initiative, similar research must be done examining other types of initiatives to ensure organizations can address all types of inequalities.” To effectively create change, people must address and acknowledge the most marginalized first, prioritize them, set a framework for change, and carry this mindset onto other injustices. This quote works for the audience I have mentioned because it introduces a certain demeanor for young adults that regard future change towards equality.

Research Portfolio- Kate

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Research Plan- Kate Mehne

Discussion Questions Week of 7/26

Response to #1:

Summary

In the journal article Intersectionality: Multiple Inequalities in Social Theory, by Sylvia Walby, Jo Armstrong, and Sofia Strid, the idea of intersectionality, mostly in regards to women, is explored with critical thinking, which offers solutions to the interconnected dilemmas women face daily, as well as systematically. The authors explore scholarly input from Crenshaw, McCall, and Hancock to understand commonalities between all of their arguments that could offer analysis as to why multiple inequalities take place for women. All of their arguments share inclusivity when it comes to women and disregarding generalizations put on them. However, the authors note that many dilemmas are left unsolved, even with Crenshaw, McCall, and Hancock’s input. The first problem involves figuring out how to address the relationship between structural and political intersectionality while not dismissing the other and instead focus on their connections. Structural intersectionality is when unequal social groups are considered, and political intersectionality regards political and systematic projects. The next dilemma asks how we address the relations between the inequalities without dismissing the powerful parts? Another problem regards balancing stability and fluidity, while the next wonders how to address class since all debates regarding intersectionality think of it differently. The authors offer solutions to each of these remaining problems, which all are similar because they all propose that one has to isolate each issue, take away its “status,” and think of all of them equally. This way, one can see the issues at hand more clearly and constitute a new critical way of thinking.

Analysis

This source is crucial to my research because it focuses on what problems still have to be fixed rather than listing success regarding intersectional thinking. By doing so, it leaves room for different perspectives and ideas to form different solutions. This is where preconceived bias can come in. With more research about bias and prejudice, I can see if this information can fill the gaps. The solutions the authors have mentioned are more complex than I gave in my summary paragraph, one being the solution for fluidity and stability. The solution reads, “The way forward is to recognize that concepts need to have their meaning temporarily stabilized at the point of analysis, even while recognizing that their social construction is the outcome of changes and interactions over time and to note the historically varied construction of these categories.” This solution is critical for my research because by stabilizing the meaning of a concept, one can see how it naturally is. There are no preconceived opinions or subconscious biases. There can hopefully be no underlying prejudice as well. The second part of the solution states that one can still recognize that social construction has caused changes and injustices, hence pre-conceived judgments. If people can start seeing a corrupt concept for how it is, without bias getting in the way, they can understand how it was historically constructed and maybe even dismantle it.

Response t0 #2:

In Kristin W’s response to the original article, she essentially notes that there are no ways to avoid the pressures of an open office, even if you tried. She states that in her experience, women would go to work early to get a seat close to the wall not to be stuck in the middle of the aisle. However, even if the women got wall seats, the men then had a perfect view to watch them. It made me honestly sad to know that these women could not even slightly avoid the poorly laid-out office. Not only was the layout awful, but the sexism revolved around it. Additionally, Kristin mentions the pressures of dressing nicely in an open office, which would create unpaid overtime at the end of the day because the men were still talking about work. By this point, too, I can already imagine the exhaustion the women have had from their days. Kristin’s writing illustrates a cycle- she notes that women can barely start their day off right in the workplace and can barely end it well. She does not necessarily mention the in-between parts of the day, but with the “cycle” being apparent, readers can certainly assume it is not so great either. Kristin W’s writing essentially demonstrates the inability of women to make their situation better because it was not designed to be changed; men have designed the office, therefore controlled by men. The beginning and ends of their days revolve around a man, whether that being watched from the aisle, expected to dress nicely for them, as well as staying late to work because the men haven’t left yet.

Research Plan- Kate Mehne

When it comes to my ongoing research, there are a few questions I want to address that play into a larger picture. First, I want to ask, “how does pre-conceived or subconscious bias affect those who are marginalized, and how does it affect them at an intersectional level?” Subconscious bias towards particular groups, specifically women, takes many emotional and physical tolls for them. Not only are women seen as the subordinate gender lower than men, but when race and sexuality come into the picture, women are even more oppressed and misunderstood. Second, I want to study if somehow bias was reversed if these intersectional factors would still feed off each other.


Intersectionality is the interconnected nature of social categories, such as gender, race, class, and sexuality. The interconnected/ overlapping nature is due to systems made from discrimination or disadvantages towards those who are marginalized. So, I want to understand how bias came to be towards different social categories. If taken away or reflected upon, could intersectionality have less of a damaging impact and rather be understood? Could our corrupt systems be reversed, therefore creating an appreciation for women and all of the social categories they fall into?


I want to ask these questions because I have been curious about them since I took a Women and Gender Studies class with Dr. Depietro. Their class encouraged me to push the boundaries of my thinking and understand intersectionality and its massive toll on our lives. In this class, I have been very interested in bias, whether towards those with disabilities, or those within different social categories, which we have seen through various readings. I thought it would be fascinating to combine these two aspects and see how they bounce off each other. I want to challenge intersectionality and bias together and see how they overlap.


My course work will inform my classmates very well since I have recently learned a lot about intersectionality and its impacts on women of all social categories, so I am very eager to share my thoughts. Not only am I keen to share my thoughts, but my other professor’s, as well as ideas from scholars and marginalized women themselves. To see the clear picture, I believe it is crucial to hear real accounts from women and professional claims to help understand the reality. What excites me about this topic is that all readers can carry it with them in their lives, and I hope my work can create this impact. This way of thinking is crucial when it comes to understanding the systems that have led us here. By understanding the systems and how they started, perhaps with bias, we can hopefully dismantle them.