May 20, 2013
by Jessica
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Personal Mission

It is my personal mission to see each and every one of these (and many more) not be limited or forced on anyone, including me, in my life time.

It is also my personal mission to monitor the stories in my head – when I say doctor – though I know many women doctors – I do in fact default to an image of a man. Nurse – woman.

My stories are editable and limit my relationships with others. They also limit my possibilities.

So, from this day forth I declare to do my part – and I will start by no longer keeping house and just eating more.

Girls and Boys need this thing fixed.

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt

May 16, 2013
by Jessica
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But what does a MAN feminist even look like?

I do an activity, Just Rescue, almost every other day during the academic year. It is my most popular activity and really gets participants to witness their own judgments and assumptions. The premise is that we can’t change our relationships with other until we know the story we write about others first.

One of the pieces of the activity involves a Feminist. No matter what region of the country or if I am working with administrators or middle schoolers, the Feminist is almost always thought of as a white, lesbian, angry woman.

This is powerful to me.

I have spent a lot of time being angry, have identified as a lesbian for almost a decade, and have been a woman from Texas since birth. I didn’t have access to Women’s Studies nor did I participate in any of the three to four waves of the Feminist movement. I even remember when the three strongest women in my life, my mother, aunt, and grandmother, sat around the kitchen table discussing the Equal Rights Amendment and how it would be terrible for women.

So, how after all this time is the Feminist still a white, lesbian, angry woman? It is not uncommon that a participant gets frustrated at this part and demands to know – “YEAH, Well – What does a MAN feminists even look like?”

Our President?

Men that organize to stop rape and sexualized violence?

You?

Take a moment and challenge yourself – what does a Feminist look like to you? Is it time to update our own definitions?

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt

May 14, 2013
by Jessica
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No Exit Ahead

This little jewel is right out side town from where my tattoo artist lives – I find it ironic because as a social justice educator, I often talk about cisgender privilege and transgender inclusion. I don’t think these conversations are a dead end though.

Biological Sex definitions and medical markers are changing and evolving over time, much like the roles and forms of expression of one’s gender identity is ever changing.

I tell a story of George W. in my workshops – if he rolled into a meeting wearing a powdered wig, French silk, Italian lace, heeled shoes, and velvet pants – George Washington – this would make sense. However, white male power of a US President changed and George W. Bush would not be wearing these things (although it might have done something to his approval ratings!) …. Same job – same demographics – very different evolution of gender expression.

So – gender might be a trap for many and this disconnect can feel like a dead end to folks that long to be seen as they want to be seen. I hope that overall gender stays more of a journey for us all – less maps and GPS setting strict rules – and more like a weekend drive of exploration.

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt

May 10, 2013
by Jessica
0 comments

Alanis Morissette Ironic

These are my favorite moments and they happen all the time! We are over signed. There are too many sign, flyers, and important notices so that now we don’t read anything.

I am often in gas stations in strange to me places. I look for the tale tale signs of a restroom, but if I don’t see the signs, I ask. The attendant will point it out and I almost always respond with, “Oh, you mean under the sign that says restrooms?”

This always makes them smile because, I imagine, the bulk of the dialog they part take in on a shift is the same questions over and over again. Other’s don’t see the obvious either. I like to imagine them looking for a restroom at a gas station too – what a great opportunity for them to remember that they have been asked the same question a zillion times, but the person asking is asking them for the first time.

I only hear about this kind of thinking in Orientation Leader training – but I think we all need it.

When posting signage, or about to ask a question – look around and be patient. Proceed with caution and a sense of humor.

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt

May 5, 2013
by Jessica
0 comments

My monthly newsletter: I got a compartment for that

I am really lucky in a lot of ways and one of these ways is that I get to have powerful conversations often that leave me thinking and feeling deeply and differently. While attending the White Privilege Conference this year, I had a conversation about compartmentalization and code switching. READ MORE…

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt
iPhone app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jessica-pettitt/id503897154?mt=8
Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_ftjp.layout
Email: jess@iamsocialjustice.com

May 1, 2013
by Jessica
0 comments

When in Rome

The salty Aegean Sea is difficult to explain to someone that has never floated in its waters. I am not a swimmer and really don’t like my feet to not be securely on the ground. However, the first time I swam in the Aegean, I felt both secure and stable and the liquid freedom of open water. I was scared and nervous and enveloped into the warm salty waters and floated all day. When in Rome, or in this case, off the coast of Ephesus… do as the Roman do.

When I stumbled into this picture, I immediately thought back to this day floating under the Mediterranean sun… I am reminded to relax back into my fears and to try new things. It is time to do this and to do this often.

Lean back into your fears even if everyone around you isn’t fearful. I even know that a lot of my fears are totally irrational, but fearful none the less.

Rinse the salt of the fear off – and repeat as often as possible. Apply sunscreen just in case.

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt
iPhone app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jessica-pettitt/id503897154?mt=8
Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_ftjp.layout
Email: jess@iamsocialjustice.com

April 29, 2013
by Jessica
0 comments

Possibility and Reality walk into a bar…

This came across my facebook wall, and I couldn’t agree more.  Anything might be possible, but everything can’t be at once.

We should tell our students this – remember you are here to get a degree first…  We should tell our friends, partners, families, neighbors, etc. the same message – you can do anything you want, but you can’t do everything.

Most importantly – we need to hold possibility while being realistic with ourselves.  Print this out – tape it up on your mirror.

Today – ANYTHING is possible AND you cannot do EVERYTHING…

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt
iPhone app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jessica-pettitt/id503897154?mt=8
Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_ftjp.layout
Email: jess@iamsocialjustice.com

April 25, 2013
by Jessica
0 comments

Exhaustion feeds motivation

As I bumble around my life – I hear bits and pieces of things, or see something, read something – and it stands out – almost blinks and glares at me – daring me to take note.  So, I do just that.  I have a pile of papers with quotes, messages, ideas, and I try to write about them before I forget what I wanted to say in the first place.

This is an excellent example.  In my pile is a yellow sheet of paper that has been folded up and stuffed into my writing folder (the pile moved into a folder so they didn’t blow away once when I thought I would write outside).  Today, as I unfolded the paper I found myself tired of doing the same things over and over again.  I don’t want to work on my budget anymore.  I don’t want to do research for an upcoming conference call.  I am recovering from a full day of training after not having an 8 hour work day in over 2 months.  Instead of being pouty – I am excited to do something new.  This is a key distinction – I’m not complaining – I am not desperate for a vacation or even a dog walk.  I am energized to do something different.  Why not write?

Like a gift in a fortune cookie – exhaustion feeds motivation, glares at me from an unfolded yellow sheet of paper.  At first – I wasn’t sure what this meant or what made me think of to write it down and save it.  I don’t remember where I heard, read, or saw this phrase.  Then it hit me – Einstein’s definition of insanity, “doing the same thing over and over again an expecting a different result.”  I gotta do something new and different – take on a new challenge – to grow, evolve, change, thrive.

Exhaustion feeds motivation.  Motivation is nourished by the same old same old getting old.

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt
iPhone app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jessica-pettitt/id503897154?mt=8
Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_ftjp.layout
Email: jess@iamsocialjustice.com

April 23, 2013
by Jessica
0 comments

Fascinating

If you are having trouble viewing the video above, you can find it here: http://youtu.be/cFods1KSWsQ

Sally Hogshead is a great speaker and in now in the National Speakers Association’s Hall of Fame.  Her ability to wear amazing vertical patterns, captivate an audience, and make statistics is fascinating – literally.  Sally’s research has lead to what she calls the Fascination Scale.  Think of if like a sort of Myers Briggs Typology except instead of how you are it is how others see you – what other’s find fascinating about you!

Visit HowtoFascnitate.com to take the short test and see what you primary trigger and secondary triggers are.  Your options are Passion, Trust, Mystique, Prestige, Power, Alarm, and Rebellion.  I have taken the text twice and first Trust and Passion then Rebellion and Trust where my results.  I’m pretty happy with either.  The first is called The Authentic and the most recent is referred to as The Artisan.  This means that others find me genuine, dependable, accessible or measured, thoughtful, and craftsman-like.  In a follow up conversation with Sally, she compared me to warm chocolate chip cookies.  I’m not sure if that is true, but I will take it!

You should too – the test I mean – what makes people fascinated by you?

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt
iPhone app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jessica-pettitt/id503897154?mt=8
Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_ftjp.layout
Email: jess@iamsocialjustice.com

April 16, 2013
by Jessica
0 comments

Still

   

Over a year ago, Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in his neighborhood.  Since then several other black men have been killed and the “Stand Your Ground” law in Florida has been used as a defense.

I wrote my monthly newsletter article then about me being a racist.  This really upset several folks.  It should be upsetting.  I can’t erase my racist beliefs and thoughts – I can only acknowledge them and work along side them to do anti-racist work on my self and with others.

These were the images I used in that article where I told my readers how I felt when I saw them and what I thought.  The picture on the left is a dear friend and his adorable son at a Trayvon Martin Rally in Union Square.  The picture on the right are two congressional members serving our country and in solidarity with Trayvon Martin wore hoodies to work.

It has been over a year, and when scrolling through my pictures – I had the same feelings and thoughts as I did a year ago.  I was then flooded with this memory and quickly corrected myself.  And – it is imperative that I tell this story.

I don’t want to be in shame – this would silence me.  I don’t want to hide because I can’t grow in the shadows.  I want to be all of me and work with all of me – not amputate embarrassing slowing moving parts.

This is me.  Still…. Over a year later… I am still me.  Now… back to work.

Copyright 2013, Jessica Pettitt. Jessica Pettitt is the “diversity educator” your family warned you about. Through teaching, writing, and facilitating tough conversations, she has figured out how to BE the change she wants to BE. Now it is your turn!
As she travels around the country, you can catch up with Jessica on:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/iamsocialjustice?ref=ts
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/pettittjess
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/iamsocialjustice
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jesspettitt
iPhone app: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jessica-pettitt/id503897154?mt=8
Android app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app_ftjp.layout
Email: jess@iamsocialjustice.com