Often in EDI work, we engage in discourse and education on microaggressions.
If microaggressions are completely new to you, I'll give you a quick TOM.
TERM: Microaggression
ORIGIN: It is noted that the term was coined by a Harvard University psychiatrist called Chester M. Pierce. First used in 1970.
MEANING: The originally meaning by Pierce was to denote the slurs and comments made towards People of Colour (POC) by white people, sometimes known as 'put downs' (Pierce, C. et al., 1978). Coming into the 21st century, as with all language, definitions undergo a metamorphosis, and microaggression began to be used widely for any casual slurs towards marginalised groups in society.
It is, however, important to consider how microaggressions can apply to more than just our social groups who face explicit injustice and prejudice (i.e. LGBTQ+, POC, People with disabilities) but that microaggressions can apply to other subgroups in society.
When we discuss the Equality Act 2010 (UK Government, 2010), legislation instated 'when making strategic decisions about the exercise of their functions to have regard to the desirability of reducing socio-economic inequalities'. In short, to reduce discrimination and prejudice behaviour in society. Often we refer to the Equality Act when talking about Sexuality, Gender Identity, Race, and Religion and Beliefs. But what do we think of first when it comes to Age?
Honestly, hand on heart, I would think to our Senior Citizens. But what about our young people? How often do we think about how young people are discriminated against? Especially when considering the Teaching profession- how do Early Career teachers feel? Even more so, how do young Early Career teachers (ECT) feel?
As someone who is a young ECT myself, at 25, with how comfortable I feel in my sexuality in the workplace, I don't have the conversation as much about what people should and should not say about the Queer community (yes we have reclaimed the word, do not choke on your beverage). However, I do feel this odd sense about how people view new young/young teachers- even today in 2022.
There tends to be this stereotype of ECTs being naïve and unfamiliar with the workings of the world. How many times have you heard “When you’re new to teaching…” or “Well, you’re still relatively new to the profession…”. Whilst I am sure many that have said these with the best of intentions, we have to also consider the subtext, ultimately- the microaggression behind this. Such comments almost being on par with “Well, you’re still young…” or “It can’t have been easy to grow up hiding your sexuality”. It literally screams ‘No sh*t, Sherlock!’.
At 25, there is the generalisation that people around my age have not done many jobs/days in work until our early 20s, when actually a lot of people my age got jobs from leaving School at 16. I have taught/am teaching Year 11s who have jobs alongside their final year of crucial study, and yes, it will give them extra money, but ultimately, our generations are often on the receiving end of comments about not knowing the value of making do, going without etc. When this would only apply to a tiny percentage of the majority.
In fact, in Government census data (UK Government, 2022) for the academic year 2020-21 and 2021-22, it shows a mere 4.9% of the profession is made up of Teachers under 25, compared to 2015-16 where it was 6.4%. When further compared with the average age of the profession between 30-39 years old, the 2020-21 and 2021-22 data shows a whopping 33.2% of Teachers (which is around 48% of the 968,100 people working in State-funded education). The point? The data (and indeed my own experience of ITT) shows a small percentage of young adults (for this case, between 18-25) join the Teaching profession compared to the average adult who could be on a career change. And yet the younger adults, despite not having the same amount of days on this Earth as their counterparts in their 30s or 40s, some could still have a wealth of experience. This must be accounted for. We must starting thinking about the potential of young teachers and what they can bring to the table, just as much as their older counterparts. Even more so, not counting them out.
I was talking to my glamourous mother whilst putting together this blog, who God love her has for so long had to listen to me getting on my soap box for EDI issues. We actually had a common ground. For context, my mother has worked in the Care Sector for nearly a decade now, having worked both in the community and residential care for the Elderly. The teams she has been a part of (and for some of the 10 years, led), there have been younger people working who older workers would slate and gripe about.
My mother is very much for advocating and talking up the younger generations input with the working world just as much as what she has seen in the Care sector. The conversation included that young people are "just as capable", and when it comes to exhaustion, young people "can be tired too" after moving and handling and the like. One of the things that really stuck with me from this conversation with Mum was us having a 'fresh perspective' on things, a fresh pair of eyes so to speak. In short, we can add just as much value to a team, and therefore we should be playing to our strengths.
Whilst you may see some younger adults living in particular conditions or conforming to certain social expectations, do not tar us all with the same brush.
I will be continuing this thread of conversation in future posts. In particular, I want to think about Young Teachers & Leadership, in general and thinking about my passion area of EDI.
If you are a young teacher reading this, keep going! Don't ever think that because one colleague (whether Faculty based, across the School or up to Senior Leadership) puts you down because of your age, that you are not worth it. Because let me tell you - You are worth it and more! Time will catch up with the individual where they realise, they may even apologise. If not, do no fret - for brighter days and maybe even brighter opportunities will come along.
If you are an experienced teacher, or an older teacher- please let your younger colleagues know that they are valued, if they do things for you or the Faculty/School, let them know you appreciate that.
Take care lovelies!
- Scotty
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