Beyond Performative Gestures Towards Ongoing Learning & Action: A Conversation with Drs. Chen & Lawless

This podcast episode features an interview with two educators, Dr. Chen and Dr. Lawless, who are experts in intercultural communication, social justice, and critical communication pedagogy. They discuss their backgrounds, experiences, and how their intersecting identities shape their perspectives on power, privilege, and social justice in the classroom. They emphasize the importance of understanding Intersectionality and how it influences individuals' experiences and interactions in various contexts. They also explore the significance of advocating for marginalized communities while being critically reflexive about their own privileged identities. The interviewees emphasized the need for an ongoing process of learning and action rather than performative gestures. They discuss the importance of building authentic alliances and the challenges in doing so, particularly in a reward-oriented academic culture. They also explore the co-optation of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts by institutions and the potential impact on marginalized communities. The interviewees emphasize the importance of reflecting on one's positionality and power dynamics in allyship work and call for a critical examination of neoliberalism's influence on social justice education. They highlight concerns about the lack of people of color teaching certain courses and the overworking of faculty of color on campus. They criticize the performative nature of diversity efforts without providing adequate support for students and faculty of color. They also emphasize the importance of addressing microaggressions in academic spaces and the need for early education on these issues. The speakers share personal experiences of being both the recipients and perpetrators of microaggressions and stress the significance of self-care and building supportive communities to navigate these challenges. They recommend adopting a collaborative approach to facilitation, using local examples to illustrate the issues, and not centering resistance voices that seek to undermine diversity efforts. Overall, the conversation sheds light on the complexities of addressing social justice issues in academia and encourages a continuous effort to create more inclusive and equitable environments.