Imagine growing up in a world where you are overlooked.
What if you do not see yourself anywhere? What if you don't feel any connection, like you don’t belong?
As an advocate for social justice and change for more than four decades, I’ve been part of the evolving conversation about making inclusive representation equitable by giving first-person voice and agency to individuals historically left out of decision-making conversations.
“Nothing About Us Without Us” is a slogan used to communicate the idea no policy should be decided by any representative without the full and direct participation of members of the group(s) affected by that policy. As voters in Simcoe County, and across Ontario, head to the polls to elect the next government, it's time to think about who is left out by provincial policies.
I think we can all agree the pandemic has changed us. It’s caused us to re-examine many things in our lives.
It has brought forward pivotal conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion for Black, Indigenous and people of colour.
As the world examines how we treat one another, and we do the work to address bias, and define what we expect, we must think about who else is being left out; socially excluded.
Social exclusion can be connected to a person's age, gender, social class, race, skin colour, religious affiliation, ethnic origin, educational status, living standards, political opinions, and appearance.
Such exclusionary forms of discrimination may also apply to people with disabilities, minorities, LGBTQ2+ people, people who use drugs, and institutional care leavers.
Some of the more subtle forms of exclusion appear in local media, internal and external communications of local institutions, and businesses that don’t represent the diverse makeup of the communities they serve.
There are many groups still under-represented within the structures and systems of our institutions, government agencies, and public service sectors such as education, health care, and law enforcement.
This provides a lack of role models for others, especially the youth, further perpetuating the problem, and portrays these systems and structures as unable to represent or understand the many issues of lived and living experiences faced by those within these groups.
The way we communicate inclusive representation translates through words and pictures and can either reflect the diversity of communities within which we live, or it can reinforce discrimination and marginalization of specific groups of people.
Perhaps, through the lens of inclusive representation, social exclusion can just be a legacy of the past that will one day be overcome.
Let’s make that one day today!
This way, everyone is connected ... everyone belongs!
Donald Carty is a social justice and social change proponent, serves on many volunteer councils and a member of the Barrie Advance’s advisory council. He can be reached at email@example.com.