Claude Steele stereotype threat model
discusses how members of marginalized
communities can get discouraged by the
stereotypes of their communities
this discouragement can lead to anxiety
loss of motivation and will eventually
lead to interference and performance for
example a woman who believes that
becoming president one day will be
impossible due to her gender can get so
discouraged to the point that she
doesn’t even try it all even if she is
qualified when I started college I
struggled immensely suddenly I was
surrounded by affluent peers when my I
myself I’m a first-generation college
student from a low-income household I
didn’t participate in campus traditions
because I assumed that they didn’t exist
for my enjoyment I felt like my first
year was a huge game of what’s wrong
with this picture and surprise it was me
I felt completely out of place and I had
no idea where to go or what to do at the
beginning of my sophomore year I was
actually taking position and student
government overseeing diversity and
inclusion programming I was terrified
and intimidated but I decided it was
time to be brave I loved the work that I
was doing I became an advocate for
inclusion and equity but there was
always a little voice inside of my head
that created doubt wondering if I was
there just because I was valued I was
not there because diversity and
inclusion were good buzz word to my face
fit the bill at the time I was working
as a hospitality Intendant at the
stadium in the Suites many of my
colleagues sat there with their families
and even though during school hours we
were equals in this space I was making a
little over minimum wage amongst my
peers who were sitting in seats there
were thousands
I became self conscious in leadership
positions as a results constantly
wondering was did I fit in at all
at the time I was still in my niece most
cultural organizations fostering
communities with students well that were
from similar backgrounds but I no longer
felt as comfortable there as I once did
and why was that I was living two
separate lives and I was desperately
scared that they will interact on one
end I didn’t want to be seen as the
angry black woman or the poor
first-generation college student but on
the other end I didn’t want my community
to think that I lost sight of our
struggles because I was no longer spent
my time there as much I was exhausted
from being pulled in so many directions
and I’m not the only one feeling out of
place is not dependent on gender race or
socioeconomic status god forbid your
weekday persona meets your Saturday life
or your new relationship seeing your old
baggage or your wealthy friends seeing
your past riddled with food insecurity
we must realize that your separate lives
will never be successful until you
realize that they are the same if not
we’re not living our best lives we’re
living our best lies overcoming
stereotypes is hard but there’s much
that we can do to combat this first be
brave if you are in a position to speak
up and use your voice use it speaking
through fear today will allow someone
else to speak without it tomorrow
second acknowledge this the differences
between us but know that we are not the
stereotypes that are placed upon us know
that you are exactly where you need to
be and that you do not have to conform
to any label or stereotype third know
that you belong as you befriend higher
and collaborate with people that are
different from yourself
don’t seek diversity to fit a quota seek
diversity to learn the magic of
individual stories diversity is for
nothing without establishing inclusivity
having to see that the table means
nothing if you can’t say what you feel
why you’re there know that you belong in
the spaces that you are in and if you
with overcoming stereotypes know that we
are not what we’ve been through but it
is our responsibility to make our
experiences matter after all
who cares about fitting the mold when
you can create a new one all together
thank you [Applause]
discusses how members of marginalized
communities can get discouraged by the
stereotypes of their communities
this discouragement can lead to anxiety
loss of motivation and will eventually
lead to interference and performance for
example a woman who believes that
becoming president one day will be
impossible due to her gender can get so
discouraged to the point that she
doesn’t even try it all even if she is
qualified when I started college I
struggled immensely suddenly I was
surrounded by affluent peers when my I
myself I’m a first-generation college
student from a low-income household I
didn’t participate in campus traditions
because I assumed that they didn’t exist
for my enjoyment I felt like my first
year was a huge game of what’s wrong
with this picture and surprise it was me
I felt completely out of place and I had
no idea where to go or what to do at the
beginning of my sophomore year I was
actually taking position and student
government overseeing diversity and
inclusion programming I was terrified
and intimidated but I decided it was
time to be brave I loved the work that I
was doing I became an advocate for
inclusion and equity but there was
always a little voice inside of my head
that created doubt wondering if I was
there just because I was valued I was
not there because diversity and
inclusion were good buzz word to my face
fit the bill at the time I was working
as a hospitality Intendant at the
stadium in the Suites many of my
colleagues sat there with their families
and even though during school hours we
were equals in this space I was making a
little over minimum wage amongst my
peers who were sitting in seats there
were thousands
I became self conscious in leadership
positions as a results constantly
wondering was did I fit in at all
at the time I was still in my niece most
cultural organizations fostering
communities with students well that were
from similar backgrounds but I no longer
felt as comfortable there as I once did
and why was that I was living two
separate lives and I was desperately
scared that they will interact on one
end I didn’t want to be seen as the
angry black woman or the poor
first-generation college student but on
the other end I didn’t want my community
to think that I lost sight of our
struggles because I was no longer spent
my time there as much I was exhausted
from being pulled in so many directions
and I’m not the only one feeling out of
place is not dependent on gender race or
socioeconomic status god forbid your
weekday persona meets your Saturday life
or your new relationship seeing your old
baggage or your wealthy friends seeing
your past riddled with food insecurity
we must realize that your separate lives
will never be successful until you
realize that they are the same if not
we’re not living our best lives we’re
living our best lies overcoming
stereotypes is hard but there’s much
that we can do to combat this first be
brave if you are in a position to speak
up and use your voice use it speaking
through fear today will allow someone
else to speak without it tomorrow
second acknowledge this the differences
between us but know that we are not the
stereotypes that are placed upon us know
that you are exactly where you need to
be and that you do not have to conform
to any label or stereotype third know
that you belong as you befriend higher
and collaborate with people that are
different from yourself
don’t seek diversity to fit a quota seek
diversity to learn the magic of
individual stories diversity is for
nothing without establishing inclusivity
having to see that the table means
nothing if you can’t say what you feel
why you’re there know that you belong in
the spaces that you are in and if you
with overcoming stereotypes know that we
are not what we’ve been through but it
is our responsibility to make our
experiences matter after all
who cares about fitting the mold when
you can create a new one all together
thank you [Applause]
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