top of page
Search

For ECE Teachers: White Privilege (30 minutes)


" White Privilege includes the unquestioned, unearned, most often unconscious, advantages, entitlements, benefits, choices, assumptions and expectations bestowed on white people based solely on membership in the culturally dominant, white group." ( Cultural Bridges to Justice, 2024)

This statement can be hard to hear. Yet, as ECE's, especially those in leadership positions, it is important that we become self-aware of our own biases and address our own ethnocentricity.  Ethnocentrism is the evaluation of other cultures according to preconceptions that originate from the standards, customs and beliefs learned within one's own culture.  They are also called  underlying assumptions. These are often unconscious and subtle- we sometimes do not even realize that we think and believe things in a certain way...ways which we may think are 'universal' but may not actually be the experience and perspective of many people around us!


  1. What does this quote mean to you?

  2. How does it make you feel?

  3. What can you do about it?


And so, we must substantially escape, or step out of, our own world view to even begin to understand what is said or believed about another. How can we do this?  One key step towards uncovering our underlying assumptions is through self reflection. Self refection allows us to look into ourselves, be critical, rethink ideas and not be afraid to change what we believe and how we understand.  Self reflection is not necessarily a casting off, but more of an  opening up of ideas. This is a process that takes time and it can be messy. It is hard to do and can be uncomfortable.  This is why we must get comfortable with being uncomfortable. We must come with an open heart and an open mind.


When we think about examining our own world view through self reflection, a familiar term surfaces...scaffolding. As we begin to rethink ways of knowing and being we 'hook' new ideas onto our existing ideas and create a new structure that will house it all, within our individual selves. 


One way to begin this scaffolding process is to take the White Privilege Questionnaire by Peggy McIntosh and read and reflect on her compelling ideas about her own experiences as a white woman. The original White Privilege Questionnaire from 1990 has gone through many iterations.  Follow this link:  White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Backpack  and complete the 50 questions responding with a yes or no, reflecting on what it would be like if your experience had you answering the opposite way.



Credits: Red Deer Polytechnic's "Early Childhood Education Leadership Development" Faculty


 
 
 

Comments

Contact Panda Cub House

Send us your inquiries below and we'll get back to you at our earliest convenience:

16203 55 Street NW

Edmonton, AB

T5Y 0G1 Canada

(780) 475 - 0336

  • Facebook
  • Instagram

pandacubhouse.com

pandacubcare@gmail.com

PANDA CUB HOUSE LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

We humbly acknowledge that we are settlers here on Treaty 6 territory, a traditional meeting grounds, gathering place, and traveling route to the Cree, Saulteaux, Blackfoot, Métis, Dene and Nakota Sioux. We acknowledge all the many First Nations, Métis, and Inuit, whose footsteps, culture, knowledge and history have marked these lands for centuries. This is the land that we inhabit, we are only here because of Treaty. We are all treaty people.

We are non-Indigenous people whom are grateful to live, work, learn and play here in Treaty 6 territory and acknowledge that we are a visitor on this land. In response to the TRC and in the spirit of genuine reconciliation, we are committed to understanding the effects of colonization, our role in it, and how we can be a better ally and apprentice, and to uplift the voices of Indigenous people.​

© 2013 by PhilMorcan Press. 

bottom of page