The sunken place

“What happens when designers of minoritized communities who do make it through the door are socialized and hypnotized into an abyss of powerlessness where they believe their own identity is a liability? What happens to their imagination if they enter the clutches of the approving white gaze?” A great and astute article from Vivianne Castillo and Michael J. A. Davis, about what can happen when leaders perpetuate inequitable systems rather than working to undo them. Similar patterns exist among many women leaders who, after ascending to positions of power, often work to preserve the patriarchal status quo. What I appreciate about Castillo and Davis’ analysis here is that it holds these leaders accountable while also recognizing the powerful incentives that lead them astray. And they have very good counsel for how to push back if you’re among the people harmed by this behavior; I will second the advice to “learn the game” of HR systems: those systems are imperfect, but they aren’t immutable.