I had a query about the symbols in the “Improving Diversity and Inclusion in Senior Leadership” presentation slides.
I wanted to create this post to make it easier to explain to others in the future. But please note that every Intersectionality Spectrum has to be contextual. That means that the model isn’t fixed, it is highly contextual and created to fit the situation you are focusing on. This particular example is roughly based around Australia, but it is still not perfect. It is there to help you understand how to triage.
- The symbol in the top left represents First Nations and is a black and white representation of the Australian Aboriginal flag designed by artist Harold Thomas in 1970.
- The symbol on the left, second from top is a square made up of four other squares that I use to represent Race.
- The symbol on the left, second from bottom is a globe centred on Africa. This is what I use to represent the the Global South.
- The symbol on the bottom left is the female gender symbol to represent Gender.
- The symbol on the top right is LGBQTI+ in letters, this is to represent LGBQTIA+ (sorry ran out of space).
- The symbol on the right, second from top, is a $ symbol crossed out to represent Poverty.
- The symbol on the right, second from bottom, is a head that represents Mental Health.
- The symbol on the bottom right is the disability symbol to represent Disability.
As it says in the slides, by setting up this graph it is dehumanising, but I am hopeful that the utility of this will at least balance out the dehumanisation that this graph brings.
