Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment by Leticia Nieto

When we look at other Target identities though, we see a continuation of what has always been true: dehumanization, invisibilization, and othering. These measures curb the viral spread and support the health of all of us. We have – for the most part – communicated and taken precautions to protect these communities through the closure of schools, specific distancing and isolation guidelines, and additional measures for senior care and assisted living facilities. For instance, children, elders, and those who are immunocompromised have rightfully been centered so far in our COVID-19 discourse as being most vulnerable to a viral pandemic. In fact, the ability to critically analyze both barriers and opportunities using this approach highlights an experiential truth – those communities already facing the harmful effects of being marginalized will only be further harmed. How do we apply this model to the moment we’re in? Exploring each of these Target identities offers us a roadmap for understanding and responding when a public health crisis, or any crisis, strikes.

Within each, we have “Agent” or “Target” identities that society either privileges (Agent) and marginalizes (Target) through cultural norms, institutional policies and practices, and systems. Kimberlé Crenshaw explored when she coined the term intersectionality to explore the compounding impact of bias and violence experienced by Black women.īy looking at the name of this model – ADRESSING – we see that the acronym reflects the “social rank” or social identity categories most salient within the United States context: Age, Disability, Religion, Ethnicity/Race, Social Class Structure, Sexual Orientation, Indigenous Heritage, National Origin, Gender. For example, this is what Columbia University law professor Dr. It is a tool for understanding privilege and marginalization, helping us understand our own lived experiences and ways we can be more intersectional in our work. The model speaks to the societally ascribed social identities around which our respective realities are built. Leticia Nieto – one of our partners in this work.

If you have shared space with any member of the JustLead team – whether it be through the Leadership Academy Program, trainings, retreats, Race Equity Justice Initiative – you have probably seen the ADRESSING Model created by Pamela Hays and adapted by Dr.

Beyond Inclusion, Beyond Empowerment by Leticia Nieto