Tag: weekof7/19

Discussion 7/19

  1. The contribution from Wong in the article “Changing Organizational Culture” that stood out the most to me occurred on the top of the second column on the second page. Wong had previously gone over ways in which organizations approached diversity and inclusion and pointed out the correct and incorrect ways to address these efforts. The quote that most contributes to a bigger argument is “an inclusive organization takes efforts to shift its own practices, policies and structures in ways that affirm, support and embrace such differences to be more equitable”. I really like this quote because Wong demonstrates an example on how to make organizations more inclusive without creating the error of focusing on diversity by including one “token” minority. Wong’s method “places responsibility on the organization” instead of putting the responsibility on the individuals. All too often we see organizations that concentrate on diversity by simply increasing the number of minorities without attempting to actually provide inclusion to these groups.
  2. Wong uses a lot of transition words in her writing as many proficient authors do. To answer this particular discussion question, I wanted to have it relate to the metaphor she gave talking about equality and equity through the use of shoes. This particular section had quite a few transition words, but one that stuck out the most was the last sentence of the first paragraph on the third page, “Whereas equality would give everyone the same shoe, an equity approach would recognize that fairness requires giving everyone shoes that fit their particular needs so that they have an opportunity to thrive and succeed”. This one sentence perfectly tied up the previous metaphor and explained Wong’s reason for providing it. It made me truly understand the scope of equality versus equity which was this paragraph’s purpose. Whereas, however, is not the only transition word used even in this particular paragraph alone. Wong utilizes two other contrasting transition words to fully explain her metaphor which just shows that they are very helpful indeed.

My highlight is that I watched the TV show “The Mare of Easttown” on HBO max with my parents which was a really good murder mystery show. It was especially cool because it takes place and was filmed in my county so I really enjoyed seeing and hearing all the references to places around where I lived and actually seeing Wawa represented in media.

Discussion Questions Week of 7/19

Question 1 Response

 “Changing Organizational Culture,”  by Cori Wong examines the differences between equity, equality, diversity, and inclusion. Wong makes note of the key how equity and inclusion should be focused on more than diversity and equality. “Creating an inclusive culture for a diverse workforce requires becoming conscious of social identities and seeing how they are experienced in a particular context, such as the workplace.”. This quote encapsulate the cor beliefs of Wong’s argument. It demonstrates the need for a holistic review of each individual who works in a company in order to truly understand te needs of the community as a whole. The idea of diversity is placed as the end goal while equity and inclusion are set as necessary markers of success along the way. The difference between equity and equality comes into play as Wong suggests that “Rather than assume everyone is the same (or should be), it is crucially important to seek to understand how differences in identities and experiences inform how we interact with our surroundings and each other”

Question 2 Response

Wong relates each paragraph to each other in a way that enhances the form and emphasises the function of her writing. Through her text, there is a frequent use of transition words/ phrases. Some examples of these are “Although”, “In contrast”, “ On the individual level”, and “Regardless of the primary motivation”. Each of these phrases help the reader to identify a switch of topic while understanding how it relates to the overall argument. Wong also uses this same format to introduce the direct citations in the 6th paragraph “For example, gaps in pay equity among men and women are the result of gender bias, but patterns of significantly lower pay and larger pay gaps experienced by women of color reveal compounded influences of the sexist and racist bias in U.S. cul- ture more broadly construed (Hegewisch & Williams-Baron, 2018).”. This quote directly lets the reader know that what she is about to say provides supporting evidence to her claim without abruptly shifting from her own choice of words.

Discussion Questions WK 7/19

1)

In the reading, Cori Wong brought up several proposals that would promote inclusivity,equity and diversity in the a workplace. One contribution that she has made which stood out to me in particular can be found on page 2 under the section “Starting With Better Questions”. Wong states ” Asking ‘Who else could we bring on board?’ risks tokenizing different identities by treating diversity as merely a numbers issue”. As Wong further expanded on this statement it became more apparent the message that she was trying to convey was. Wong explains that this question essentially makes it seem as though an organization can increase their diversity if they bring in more people from marginalized groups. Wong then further explains that what these organizations should be doing is focusing on making the environment more inclusive so that these people can have a better chance at being successful. To rectify this, Wong suggests that organizations focus on the question of “Who is not represented at the proverbial table?” as a way to uncover and examine any aspects of the organization’s culture which may be excluding some people, and focus on fixing this. I think this stood out to me because it relates to what I’ve been researching for the past week , I think this has given me some better insight into the difference between diversity and inclusion as well as the effect when one is present without the other.

2) In Wongs writing, I noticed that she connected her paragraphs by using “while”,”for example”, or referencing something that was brought up in the previous paragraph to show that they are connected. This is seen on the first page under “Context:Social Inequities and Organizational Culture” when she begins the first paragraph by mentioning that workplaces reflect inequities that are found at larger scale in the culture. Wong connects the next paragraph by stating ” for example, gaps in pay equity among men a women are the result of gender bias…”. She provided an example of what she mentioned in paragraph 1. this is also seen on page 2 when Wong writes in the previous paragraph about the meaning of diversity and then in to connect the next paragraph she states ” While diversity often refers to representation of culture, inclusion refers to …”. I think her transitions matter greatly in her piece because it shows that her writing is very put together and organized.

My highlight last week was that I finished my calculus course after six stressful weeks, another highlight was yesterday when I went to New Jersey and hung out with some of my family to celebrate Eid.

Research is a creative endeavor

As you’re continuing with your research, I encourage you to remember this: research is a creative process.

Here’s why that matters:

  • whatever your topic, whatever your motivation, when you research you are making something new–a new set of ideas, new questions, a new collection of perspectives
  • because research is a creative endeavor, there isn’t a single *right* way to do it–you’re not assembling an Ikea bookshelf; you’re creating something brand new that hasn’t been before and that is unlike anyone else’s project (and it’s totally fine to have leftover parts 😉 )
  • when you’re entering new, uncharted territory, it’s helpful to have models and maps–tutorials for different search tools (such as the SU Libraries how-to pages) offer a lot of value, in addition to the notetaking and analytical reading work we’ve been doing in class
  • you can have fun with this work–you’re charting your own course to a large extent, and you can be inventive with your choice of sources (inputs) and products (outputs)

The note-taking work that you’ve been doing this past week is part of this generative process. As you read, think critically, and respond to your sources’ ideas in your notes, you are beginning to shape your own perspective on the subject at hand, and ultimately your own contribution to the larger body of thought on this subject. That’s why I’m asking you to spend some real time on taking notes. Note-taking is where your creative thought-work begins.

A few suggestions to keep in mind:

  • use tools for what they’re good for: the SU Libraries website is good for finding specialized material by scholars and other experts. It will also give you full-text access to newspapers from all over the world. When you’re looking for that stuff, go there. Primary sources sometimes pop up there, but are more likely to be found on the open web, where anyone can publish. When you’re looking for that stuff, it makes sense to start with Google.
  • keep in mind that sources come in many forms–not just articles and books, but radio features, podcasts, images, documentaries and other videos, interviews/Q&As, etc.  You’re not limited to traditional kinds of texts.
  • jump straight to Advanced Search–filter your results more on the front end, and you’ll have fewer to sift through. Consider adding multiple search terms and placing limits on date, type of publication, language, etc. Note that when adding search terms in Advanced Search, you have a dropdown menu that defaults to “All Fields” (term appears anywhere in the text). You can also select “abstract” (term is significant enough to appear in the summary of the text). Check out this image:screenshot showing Advanced Search selections
  • use sources to leapfrog–check out authors’ bibliographies for ideas, pay attention to the Subject headings or Keywords in the citation entry of a database search. Check out the image below–in your list of search results, hover over the Preview+ option to pull up the full citation, and then check out the Subjects listed–these are the terms this database uses to catalog related material. You can incorporate these as search terms, and it’s kind of like browsing the physical shelf in the library for other similar materials.
screenshot of full bibliographic citation showing how to do subject searching

Discussion Questions Week of 7/19

Response to #1

In “Changing Organizational Culture,” Cori Wong discusses a number of ways organizations can promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. For the most part, she revisits familiar themes and strategies. She reminds us that diversity contributes to organizational performance. She tells us that organizational culture helps diverse employees develop loyalty and a sense of connection. She also reminds us to remember that marginalized groups experience bias at the “macro level of culture” (Wong 26). All of these aspects of DEI are worth hearing again. But Wong breaks new ground, at least for me, when she discusses the energy marginalized individuals expend overcoming barriers and obstacles and the toll this takes on them. She uses a metaphor of running shoes and blisters to symbolize the pain some feel as they struggle in what seems like an equitable situation. Wong follows this by urging organizations to identify the actual barriers and pain points and to make a commitment to removing them. She raises these points rather late in her article, on pages 29 and 30, but they seem to be the overall message she is building up to. She is saying that lasting culture change requires more than a level playing field, it requires bold action. She is telling those in charge to tear the barriers down. To me, that sounds like a message more people need to hear.

Response to #2

Wong uses connecting words and phrases in almost every paragraph of her article. There is one paragraph on page 28 that really impressed me because it demonstrates how she takes a simple statement and deepens our understanding of it by stretching the ideas in it to subsequent sentences, which include several rephrasings. The paragraph begins with the sentence: “Our differences are inherent to our experience as human beings.” In the following sentence: “In ideal circumstances, they are nurtured…,” the word they refers to differences in the previous sentence, linking the two sentences together. The next sentence begins with the phrase “Echoes of this can be found in…,” which is both a way to say “for example” and also a nice way for her to tell us that she is reiterating her point. The fourth sentence begins with “Put another way,” which allows her to repeat herself with a difference. And the last sentence is: “Such is the beauty of inclusion and equitable practices.” This short statement is like a bookend that matches the paragraph’s opening statement and that connects all the ideas in the paragraph together.

Highlight of my week

This week I reconnected with a high school friend I haven’t seen in more than a year. He’s been on a Mormon mission and is traveling on the East Coast. I can’t believe a whole year has passed by. Reconnecting with him made me realize that the past year is a lost year for so many people my age. I really look forward to hanging out in person with friends again when things get back to normal.

Discussion Questions Week of 7/19

Response to #1

In the section Equity vs. Equality (page 2) of the article “Changing Organizational Culture: From Embedded Bias to Equity and Inclusion”, Wong presents a fascinating metaphor. This metaphor illustrates the point that one size does not fit all. It gives a hypothetical scenario where each runner is given the same size shoe. If the shoe is too big or too small, that runner will be disadvantaged and unable to compete at their peak performance level. The most important part about the metaphor, in my opinion, is where Wong introduces the idea that the judges of the race may not experience the discomfort that some runners endure because they are wearing a shoe size that fits them.

This metaphor, therefore, is significant in a variety of ways. Often people view equality as a positive thing, where change is occurring. However, by treating everyone the same, we are not acknowledging everyone’s differences. By not embracing people’s differences, many people will not feel included in the organization, which would harm the organizational culture. The article further goes on to point out the fact that having neutral policies assumes people have the same needs.

The other significant idea that this metaphor brings up is that judges may have a shoe size that fits them well. They have not had to experience the discomfort that others have had to go through, which brings up the idea that people like bosses or superiors are privileged. The idea is brought up later in the article where Wong speaks about understanding differences between people creates different experiences and gives us an idea of how to interact with other individuals.

This metaphor, to me, was important as it illustrated the idea that equality and equity are not the same things. We need to promote equity and embrace different viewpoints. By encouraging this, we can have a workforce that is a safe, inclusive, and inviting environment.

Response to #2

Wong does a great job at connecting her sentences. It seems as though she first presents an idea or a thought that she has and then backs it up with evidence. As an illustration, in the starting from the margins section, Wong points out that people need different forms of support that weaken their disadvantages. In the following sentence, she uses the transition phrase for example, and then presents some of the ways in which people can be accommodated for their needs. After explaining why the example is meaningful, Wong uses a conclusion transition not included in the TSIS book. I thought it was a great way to conclude the point she was making. She used “Put another way,” which is a way to say in summary, or in conclusion. I liked how she put her own spin on it to where it did not sound as mechanical like: in conclusion, or in summary.

Wong seems to like the ‘for example’ transition, as opposed to other example transitions mentioned in ch8 of TSIS. She uses it four times throughout the article, whereas other example transitions are not utilized at the beginning of any sentence. Instead of introducing the idea with a transition that is overused and easily visible in the article, such as on the other hand, regardless, or by contrast, Wong comes up with her own transition phrases, which I admire.  To introduce the idea about how we should embrace differences and cater to each individual’s needs, she uses rather than. I thought that this transition to a new idea or subject was strong, as it pointed out what society and different organizations are currently doing and then later points out how we can change that. Her for example transition was significant as it pointed out in plain English how accommodations to people have already benefitted those groups. The two examples of groups who have already benefitted from changes catered to their specific needs are disabled people, and nursing parents. By giving each group space or special accommodations to their needs, they have accepted in the workplace.

The TSIS ch8 states that transitions should be invisible. I do not believe that you always have to use the words or structured transitions that they give in the book, rather you can come up with your own ways to transition ideas. Wong does this in this section but still manages to use a TSIS example transition phrase. This section flows seamlessly, and I think it is great at illustrating the idea that writing is like a conversation and transitions should be effortless. This is what Wong manages to do in her writing.

This week I went up to the mountains. I went on a few hikes with my brother and we saw a mountain goat. No one else was on the path the whole hike, which was awesome. Hopefully I’ll be able to go one more time before I head back to Syracuse.

Discussion Questions week 7/19

1.

Wong adds to the conversation through what I found to be a very relevant metaphor. When I think about the accommodations that I fought to get in high school for my ADD, I saw them as “helpers” that I needed to be able to function the way everyone else does. I had never really thought about equity and diversity being capable of needing the same thing. Her metaphor about the shoes used for a race is found on page 27 in the second paragraph of the section “Equity vs. Equality”. I think that this metaphor can be used in any situation where people are just a little bit “different” from the majority of the people that they are working with and putting it into a scenario where most people can really see the importance of these accommodations.

In my experience in the case of a disability, people who do not need the accommodations that I need do not understand the point of them. Some even found it unfair that I would get extra time on an exam or could type my essays instead of write them. The metaphor that Wong uses allows people who do not need the accommodations to see why people who need them do. By phrasing it the way she does and then explaining how it relates to equality and equity, and the difference between the two, shows what needs to be done to accomplish inclusion. It is not just about having a more diverse group of people working, which is also something that Wong points out, it is about giving everyone the tools they need, whatever those may be, to be successful.

2.

Something that I noticed Wong did a often in her article is that after introducing a new point, she would elaborate on it. Since most, if not all, of her points are related in some way, transitioning from one point to another seemed extremely natural in the way that Wong posed her argument. A lot of the transitions she used to connect her points occurred naturally because the next point was able to validate or back up the previous one.

In the first section after the introduction, “Context: Social Inequities & Organizational Culture”, Wong makes a point, gives an example or explains what people are doing to cause the point she is making, and then concludes her poing by giving more information that will affect the reader. She did this well when she concluded her idea about safety professionals and their awareness with “When women die on the job, they are murdered at much higher rates than men, and a large percentage of women are killed at work by intimate partners”. This sentence is powerful and was a good way to transition into the conclusion of the section that reiterated the importance of safety professionals and their knowledge and awareness.

This week my mom and I went into the city and got bracelets that I saw online where they zap them on so that the only way to take them off is to cut it. If you need to cut it off you can always go back and they can put it back on. We got matching ones together!!

Discussion Questions Week of 7/19

Response to #1

Although included in the “Context” portion of the introduction of the article, Wong made a point that stood out to me in his writing, mainly because it goes hand in hand with my upcoming research. Wong basically says that social inequities and organizational culture consist of interconnected systems. These systems are faulty, of course. Marginalized groups often stem from a larger “culture,” meaning a way of life/ thinking that oppresses many people that go against the “preferred bias.” In simpler terms, intersectionality comes to play more than one would think when it comes to injustices for diverse people.

Wong demonstrates the example of gender bias, stating that the unequal pay between men and women supports this way of thinking. However, Wong then says that even lower pay for women of color not only supports gender bias but sexist and racist bias. This is a perfect example, I believe, for introducing how interconnected systems affect culture and introducing the larger picture for understanding marginalization. To successfully tackle equity efforts, people need first to address the experiences of the most marginalized. However, this does not mean that the less marginalized people are exempt. This means that addressing the most marginalized consists of multiple oppressions, tackling multiple issues at once. This is an exciting way of thinking that I will note for my research, which asks how we can conquer multiple pre-conceived biases that result in intersectional oppression?

Response to #2

While reading Cori Wong’s article, I noticed not only does he use very successful transition words, but he uses the word “while” a lot at the beginning of his next paragraph. However, this is not used redundantly. Wong has a pattern; he states a certain point in a paragraph, then in the next one, he recognizes this point and offers a different perspective or view of the one previously stated. For example, in the “Starting With Better Questions” paragraph, Wong explains that simply hiring diverse people gets nothing done if there is no culture or system in place that can successfully support and leverage the strengths of difference. Without knowing, a reader is viewing a setup for the next paragraph. This reminds me of Bogust’s use of connecting his points in a very seamless, almost invisible way. In the paragraph to follow, the first sentence reads, “While diversity often refers to representation of difference,
inclusion refers to how differences are meaningfully incorporated and integrated into daily practices.” This sentence foreshadows what’s to come: a paragraph explaining how to infiltrate an inclusive environment by asking the right questions effectively. Wong is great at framing sentences that “have hands,” which reach out to the previous sentence as well as the ones to follow. They all go “hand in hand,” ironically enough. All of these tactics are essential moves noted in chapter 8 of TSIS. Wong’s use of the word “while,” framing almost a counterargument or different perspective to come, as well as connecting his sentences, creates a very constructive piece of writing.

My highlight:

This weekend on Block Island I was able to see a friend who took the ferry over from Montauk. We went to the beach, shopped downtown, and had a great dinner together. Even though it was just for the day, It made me really happy seeing a friend from school, and got me very excited for this upcoming semester!

Overview for Week of 7/19

As we approach the midpoint of the course, it’s a good time to take stock of where you’re at–any missing assignments you need to catch up on, any discussion posts or replies you didn’t complete, how your research work is coming along. If you have any questions, please reach out to me by email–we can chat that way or set up a time to talk by phone/Zoom to make sure you’re clear on where you stand.

This week, you’ll be continuing your work toward the research portfolio; locating, reading, and taking notes on sources; and firming up your research plan. Read on for an overview of this week’s work.

Reading

  • “Changing organizational culture: from embedded bias to equity and inclusion” by Cori Wong (on Blackboard)
  • Chapters 8 and 9 of They Say/I Say (“As a result” and “You mean I can just say it that way?”)–note that chapter 9’s title was incorrect on the schedule of assignments. Sorry about that.
  • possible sources for your research portfolio as you locate them

Writing/discussion

  • Preliminary notes exercise (submit through Bb dropbox by Wednesday, 7/21)–the goal here is to catalog the sources you’re finding and begin sketching out the different perspectives they have to offer
  • Research plan–review page 3 of the unit 2 assignment sheet (submit on blog by Sunday, 7/25). Categorize this as “Research Portfolio,” and tag it with “plan,” “weekof7/19,” and [your name].
  • Discussion work on blog (here are the prompts)

Discussion prompts for Week of 7/19

We’re going to take it a little easier this week on discussion–please respond to both of the questions below by Wednesday, 7/21; you do not need to reply to your classmates’ posts, though I certainly encourage you to read through what others have to say.

In “Changing organizational culture,” we see a rather different type of writing, one that’s pretty approachable and readable, but still presenting intensive research in a way that’s geared toward a very specific audience. What we’re looking at here is a trade/professional journal. Like scholarly journals, they often include peer-reviewed articles, but they’re designed for practitioners (in this case, in the workplace safety industry) rather than for other academics. The end result is detailed research that’s usable for people working in this field.

In part we’re looking at this article as a sample of a genre that might be useful for you to consider for your own inquiry. SUMMON (the SU Libraries’ search tool) allows you to select “trade publication” as a Content Type option in an Advanced Search. It can be really helpful to see what folks within a given field are talking about, how they’re making use of current research, developing best practices, implementing ideas, etc. The material there tends to be very current material from experts–good stuff to use when you’re trying to understand the implications of a particular issue.

And we can also learn some lessons from this text about how to develop an argument that will reach our readers. Wong does a solid job of making explicit connections between theory and practice as she translates this material for a non-academic audience. Let’s home in on how she makes this work.

Please respond to both of the questions below for this week’s discussion.

  1. Wong is entering a conversation around diversity (including the business case and the ethical case folks have made for diversity) and inclusion that was going on long before she showed up. What does she have to add to this discussion? Focus in on 1 particular contribution you see her making to this larger conversation. Name it, explain it, tell us where to find it, and talk about what you think is significant about it.
  2. Review chapter 8 of TSIS, which is about connecting the parts. Locate a place in Wong’s article where you see her doing this important work, and identify the TSIS moves that you see her using in this segment. Again, point us to a specific passage, and talk us through what she’s doing there and why it matters.

Categorize your posts as “Discussions/Homework,” and tag with “unit 2,” “weekof7/19,” and [your name]. And kindly throw us a little personal update–what have you been up to this past week? (highlight, lowlight, lesson–whatever you’ve got to share).

Here’s a little highlight for me:

My youngest son is a total gearhead–loves cars more than anything–so we took him to the Syracuse Nationals Car Show this weekend. It was just nice to be back at the NYS Fairgrounds after a couple of years away. (Plus, there were gyros!) I’m not a car nut, but I am a history buff, so this one really caught my attention. In 1917, a guy from New Hampshire patented an add-on kit to transform the Ford Model T into a snowmobile. I’ve never seen or heard of this, so it was fascinating to see it in real life!