One question project: Zoë Papaikonomou
How would you advise someone to practice being inclusive and focusing on the power relationships?
Equity or ‘gelijkwaardigheid’ in Dutch, as Kauthar and I define it in The Inclusion Marathon is a combination of equity and justice and a fundamental concept in DEI for me. In the Netherlands, many organizations dive into the happy diversity talk (concept by Sara Ahmed); that’s nice and comfortable. Yet, they'd rather not talk about abuse of power, discrimination and bullying: the systemic and unjust barriers that work against diversity and inclusion. Then, all of a sudden, the discussion gets too complicated and unpleasant. Our interviewees in The Inclusion Marathon also describe how diversity and inclusion were coined to maintain the unequal status quo. And language forms a barrier in (unequal) conversations. For example, I've given lectures in English and been in international settings. I always state: I'm not a native English speaker and people kindly respond: 'Oh, no problem!' That's very nice, but I want to clarify that I may express words differently and terms might have different connotations. You must realize that as a native English speaker, you hold power because you can almost always express yourself in your native tongue, especially in international environments. Farzin Farzad, an American DEI specialist, says knowing your power(s) within spaces is important. So, if you are a native speaker in whichever context, use your powers wisely.
The same applies to other types of powers you have. For example, because of historically grown inequality, we have developed a tendency to consider the views and opinions of white, upper-class males as the norm or the truth. Voices representing marginalized groups are regarded, for example, as the ‘Asian, Black or Muslim perspective’. When you hold more power in a space it is pivotal that you recognize this and share your powers en thus the space.
About Zoë:
She is an author, investigative journalist, podcaster and media educator. Her work is focused on diversity, equity and inclusion. Not only by researching this field but also by challenging current structures and norms. She published her second book in 2021, The Inclusion Marathon, about the world of DEI in the Netherlands together with Kauthar Bouchallikht. In 2018 she published her first book with Annebregt Dijkman: 'Got an Angry Muslim for Me?'
Zoë Papaikonomou lives in Amsterdam with her partner and two kids.