Explorations in Diversity Examining the Complexities of Privilege, Discrimination, and Oppression

Every person comes to know and understand their life from their own perspective. As a result, it is often difficult and sometimes unbelievable to realize that others, whom one may or may not know, might also experience daily life in a vastly different way. Explorations in Diversity offers readers the opportunity to step into the lives of diverse others and experience their lives through their eyes. Some readers may find themselves struggling to comprehend or even believe the experiences this text's authors share, or where they fit within each narrative. However, each account in this text ultimately aims to open minds, hearts, and mouths in ways that push each of us toward a better understanding of our own privileged statuses so that we can use who we are, what we say, and what we do to make our society more accepting and inclusive of all our diverse representations.

Section 1-Stories of White Privilege, White Racial Identity, Whiteness, and Intersectionality
Chapter 1: An Awakening to Privilege, Oppression, and Discrimination
Sharon K. Anderson
Chapter 2: Whiteout: Growing Out of the Problem of White Privilege
Heidi A. Zetzer
Chapter 3: The Challenge of Accepting White Privilege after Living a Life of Poverty
Deborah Megivern Foster

Section 2-Stories of Ethnic Complexities, Privilege, and Intersectionality
Chapter 4: No Parece, pero soy Latino: The Privilege and Prejudice Inherent in Being a Light-Skinned Latino without an Accent
Edward A. Delgado-Romero
Chapter 5: Going Through Cultural Barriers in Counseling
Ruth Chao and Ying Shan Doris Zhang
Chapter 6: Oppression of the Spirit: Complexities in the Counseling Encounter
Devika Dibya Choudhuri
Chapter 7: Unmasking Within-Group Prejudice, Internalized Oppression, and Privilege: A Case Study
Felice Lichaw, Marya Howell-Carter, Meagan Voulo, and Michael Harris
Chapter 8: Exploring the Intersections of Race, Gender, Sexuality, and Class in the Clinical Setting
Damien W. Riggs
Chapter 9: Navigating Oppression, Diversity, Power, and Privilege in Pursuit of Achievement and Success: An International Perspective
Saliwe M. Kawewe

Section 3-Stories of Assumed Privilege
Chapter 10: Assumed Privilege: A Double-Edged Sword
Allan Edward Barsky
Chapter 11: "Who, Me? White?": The Process of Acknowledging and Challenging Racial Privilege
Helen G. Deines

Section 4-Stories of Socioeconomic Privilege and Classism Complexities
Chapter 12: Experiencing Class Oppression and Privilege in Work, Romance, Psychotherapy, and Education
Colleen Loomis
Chapter 13: A Place on the Ladder: Socioeconomic and Ability Privilege
Kathleen M. Davis

Section 5-Stories of Sexual Identities, Gender, Cisgender
Chapter 14: Fierce Dyke Caught Doing Husband's Laundry: Marriage-The New Frontier
Jessica Pettitt
Chapter 15: "Head Ladies Center for Teacup Chain": Exploring Cisgender Privilege in a (Predominantly) Gay Male Context
N. Eugene Walls and Kelly Costello
Chapter 16: Becoming a Counseling Professional Lesbian: Revisiting Privilege and Challenges
Joy S. Whitman

Section 6-Stories of Ageism, Sexism, and Heterosexism
Chapter 17: The Ism We May All Face One Day
Jacqueline J. Peila-Shuster
Chapter 18: I Almost Quit My Career Today: The Experience of Isms at Work
Geri Miller
Chapter 19: How I Got My Wings: Growing Up Female in the 1950s
Carol L. Langer
Chapter 20: Increasing Awareness of Heterosexism and Homophobia: A Personal and Professional Journey
Allison L. Kramer
Chapter 21: "Men Can't Be Raped": The Challenge of Sexism in Counseling
Heather Trepal

Section 7-Stories of Differently Abled and Ableism
Chapter 22: Diving Greatly: Reflections on Ableism
Jessica Lloyd-Hazlett
Chapter 23: Dirty Secrets, Unholy Unions, and Death Sentences: Disability-Based Oppression and Privilege
Paul E. Priester with Karla Ivankovich

Section 8-Stories of Gender, Race, and Identity Development
Chapter 24: Of Paper Plates and Poetic Things: A Black Lesbian Pedagogy on the Horizon
Kianna M. Middleton
Chapter 25: Ethnic Beauty in a Western Society: An Examination of Black Identity Development
Sametra Polkah-Toe with Valerie A. Middleton
Chapter 26: Skin Color: An Issue of Social Status and Privilege
Linda Robinson
Chapter 27: Racism by Way of Education: The Politics of Privilege and Oppression
Daryl H. Thorne

Section 9-Stories of Allies, Activists, and Personal Compassion
Chapter 28: Personal Compassion and Alliance Building: Interrupting Cycles of Discrimination and Relational Dehumanization
Matthew R. Mock
Chapter 29: Allies and Activists: Working With White, Male, Heterosexual, Cisgender, or Christian Privilege
Barbara Gormley
Chapter 30: Yes, I See You're Committed to the Cause . . . But Where's Your Credibility, and Why That Angst?
David MacPhee
Index