{"id":249854,"date":"2024-07-22T14:35:46","date_gmt":"2024-07-22T12:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/staging.socius.de\/?p=249854"},"modified":"2026-06-03T12:16:03","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T10:16:03","slug":"there-are-no-power-free-spaces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.socius.de\/en\/kollaboration-b\/es-gibt-keine-machtfreien-raume\/","title":{"rendered":"There are no power-free spaces"},"content":{"rendered":"

With \u017daklina Mamutovi\u010d and Nele Kontzi<\/strong> In June, we invited two pioneers of the anti-bias approach in Germany to the SOCIUS laboratory. The two have been working together for over 23 years in the anti-bias network<\/a>. They educate, support, offer training, advise, and it is very clear that they do so with conviction and passion. Back in 2015, the Anti-Bias Network collective launched a Book on the anti-bias approach<\/a> published.<\/p>\n

They never tire of contributing to a society that is more aware of prejudice and less discriminatory.<\/p>\n

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What is the anti-bias approach?<\/h4>\n

The anti-bias approach is an educational strategy that aims to identify, reflect on and break down prejudices and discrimination. This method was originally developed in the USA and has spread worldwide since the 1980s. It has become particularly widespread in South Africa since the end of the apartheid regime. In the United Kingdom, the approach arrived in the mid-1990s, became established in the early 2000s and has been continuously developed ever since.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/h5>\n
Key aspects of the anti-bias approach are<\/h5>\n

Raising awareness of prejudice:<\/strong> This approach helps to identify one's own prejudices and stereotypes. This is achieved through reflection and discussion about various forms of discrimination and inequality, whether based on origin, gender, social class, disability or other characteristics.<\/p>\n

Diversity and inclusion:<\/strong> The anti-bias approach aims to promote diversity and inclusion. It encourages people to appreciate differences and see them as enriching, rather than using them as a basis for discrimination.<\/p>\n

Critical reflection:<\/strong> An important component is the critical examination of social power structures and their influence on individuals and groups. This includes questioning norms and practices that perpetuate inequalities, as well as the individual contribution that each person makes to this.<\/p>\n

Empowerment:<\/strong> The approach aims to empower individuals and give them the tools to defend themselves against injustice and discrimination. This includes promoting self-confidence and self-esteem, especially among people who are affected by discrimination.<\/p>\n

Practical approaches:<\/strong> In practice, the anti-bias approach encompasses a wide range of activities and methods, some of which we have tried out at the SOCIUS laboratory.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What does the issue of discrimination have to do with you?<\/h4>\n

That was the opening question for the check-in round. Which object in your vicinity do you associate with discrimination? Or what is a symbol of it? A passport, a key ring, a photo with three generations of women, a postcard, a stone, stories from books such as \u201cThe beauty of difference<\/a>\u201d(which I reviewed here about a year ago) and from my life experience as a \u201cstrike feminist\u201d in Switzerland in the 1980s. We heard stories from people who feel that it was only late in their lives that they understood that discrimination is an issue that also concerns them and affects them, and from people who experienced conscious discrimination very early on in their lives, whether because of their own names or because of their families' social situations. Even at this stage, it became clear how different people's approaches to the topic are. It was also striking that the group of participants was disproportionately white<\/em>, female and cis.<\/p>\n

The reference to the form of discrimination adultism <\/strong>(A form of discrimination in which adults disadvantage, patronise or belittle children and young people because of their age and their supposedly lesser life experience and wisdom) was, in my opinion, very instructive here, because we all share this experience and learned very early on that discrimination is okay and widespread.<\/p>\n

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awareness raising<\/h5>\n

The anti-bias approach assumes that we generally talk too little about discrimination and that when it is discussed, it is either expected of those directly affected or those not directly affected talk about the discrimination of others.<\/p>\n

What rarely happens is talking about how we ourselves (unconsciously) act in a discriminatory manner and what contributes to this. In a speed dating exercise, we had five minutes in each of five rounds to discuss the following questions in pairs.<\/p>\n