Wheel of Privilege and Power

One of our congregants provided this tool, the Wheel of Privilege and Power, for our continued discussion on examining our biases. The following is from the Equity & Inclusion teaching resource section of the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Center for Teaching, Learning & Mentoring (CTLM) Instructional Resources KnowledgeBase. 

In the center is the word “power”, and on the outside of the wheel is the word “marginalized”. The categories are:

• Body size, with large on the margins, and slim in the center; 

• Mental health, with vulnerable on the margins and robust in the center;

• Neurodiversity, with significant neurodivergence on the margins, and neurotypical in the center; 

• Sexuality with lesbian, bi, pan, and asexual on the margins, and heterosexual in the center;

• Ability with a significant disability on the margins, and able-bodied in the center; 

• Formal education with elementary education on the margins and post-secondary in the center;

• Skin color with dark on the margins, and white in the center;

• Citizenship with undocumented on the margins, and citizens in the center;

• Gender with trans, intersex, and non-binary on the margins and cisgender in the center;

• Language with non-English monolingual on the margins and English in the center;

• Wealth with poor on the margins and rich in the center;

• Housing with homeless on the margins and owning property in the center.

Note: This graphic is not intended to capture all areas of marginalization. The intent is to provide a framework to view power and privilege. As you identify additional areas of marginalization, take time to reflect on how you might represent that within the model.

You may find it a helpful exercise to use this wheel to examine a communication dynamic between yourself and someone else in the future. Find each portion of the wheel that you think describes yourself and then consider where the person you are communicating with might find themselves on the wheel. Compare and note any power differentials identified. This may be a helpful tool in identifying unconscious or implicit biases that might impact your interactions with others, and in so doing create a space for better and more equitable communication.

Exploring Our Biases - Part 2

"Human beings are poor examiners, subject to superstition, bias, prejudice, and a PROFOUND tendency to see what they want to see rather than what is really there."
M. Scott Peck

At this month's Faith, Friends & Fellowship discussion group, we continue our exploration of personal biases by identifying and defining various types of bias, as well as discussing strategies to address them in everyday situations. Understanding and talking about bias is essential, especially implicit bias, because it can lead to unfair judgments and discriminatory behavior, even among well-meaning individuals. By increasing our awareness, we aim to reduce, avoid, or even reverse the negative impact of these biases in our communities and relationships.