Discussion: Voices of Diversity: Gender and Sexuality

Growing up, did you see positive and well-rounded portrayals of people like you on TV and in books? Are you typically referred to by the appropriate pronouns? Do you need to conceal aspects of your identity in the workplace out of fear? If you are a cisgender person who is heterosexual, you may not have thought much about the everyday challenges of the LGBTQ community. Many of the privileges you take for granted may not be available to them.

As a profession, social work embraces diversity and strives to ensure equal rights for all through allyship and advocacy. One way to become a better ally is to understand the barriers in place for marginalized populations such as LGBTQ people. For this Discussion, you take that step by engaging in several activities designed to illuminate the LGBTQ experience.

To Prepare

• View the Voices of Diversity: Gender and Sexuality video showing Social Work faculty sharing perspectives and experiences related to gender and sexuality.
• Reflect on the video, identifying ideas, experiences, or statements that resonate with you.
• Review the Learning Resources on practice with women and the LGBTQ population and on allyship.
• Access and complete the Privilege for Sale activity in the Learning Resources.

By Day 3

Write a post in which you:

• Analyze what you learned from the Voices of Diversity video regarding perspectives and experiences of gender and sexuality. What idea, experience, or statement resonated with you the most, and why?
• Then, describe your approach to the Privilege for Sale activity and any challenges you encountered in selecting privileges. Describe at least one insight you gained from the activity.
• Apply your learning to social work practice with the LGBTQ population and to allyship.