Page 38 - Exemplar_2019_Fall

Fall 2019
experiences of marginalization permeated across spaces However authentic expression occurred when contexts were inclusive (e g g with balance of power or or nurturing mentors) Thus implications involve addressing context or shifting our professional climate to decrease negotiation increase authentic expression and and diversify the the profession I share our story and and call-to-action to to to this end with my words words in in in plain text participants’ words words in in in in in italics and major themes bolded This is is us—surviving evolving ready for revolution We are unique distinct yet united Our stories vary—the people within
them them them contexts around them them them and and voices
and and meanings throughout them them them But we share at at least two factors that elicit similar challenges and and processes of growth We are counselor educators and and we carry
some marginalized identity We also share a a a a a a a a a common goal: genuine integration and expression of of our our authentic selves in in in our our professional environments We strive for this but recognize there are limits created
in in in part by a a a a a a a a a [profession] that was not meant for people in in in in the the margins Our authenticity
is in in in uenced by more than our professional climate Our expressions of of Self are dynamic shifting over time and and experience in in in many contexts We are are intersectional and and and so are are our lived experiences development and and needs for growth We experience experience privilege and face marginalization simultaneously because the compositions of of our identities are in uenced by histories of of oppression and structures of power Our intersections cannot be unbound Yet we we live in in in systems that do not often embrace our intersections nor re ect ect ect intersectional praxis When we are confronted with adversity that calls to question our our expressions of Self we work against our our intersectionality and and deconstruct We We question who and and how we can be We We experience diminishment discouragement fear isolation lack lack of of voice lack lack of of power we we we we feel that we we we we have to to hide are are not enough we we we we are are misunderstood We reach a a a a a a a a a con uence like two streams of water merging pooling and searching for for a a a a a a a a a new ow forward A con uence of of of impact on on our experiences of of of Self and a a a a a a a a process of of of intersectional navigation where integration of of personal and professional identity is challenged We deconstruct our intersections to locate the identity that may be targeted as a a a a a a a source of con ict Then we negotiate that identity component to survive thrive and hopefully change the system from within
by momentarily joining it it We negotiate based on how we we believe others perceive us us what what they expect of of us us and what what we we need to to do to to remain professional We are active agents in in in navigating our contexts to to have security and and safety with intent to to develop and and express authentically over time But this strategic navigation process is is not always readily available to us us There are moments when we we subconsciously suppress aspects of Self because context tells us us us we we may be be at at at risk for adversity We negotiate navigate experience 38 CHI SIGMA IOTA EXEMPLAR