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Dreistadt, J. (2012, October). Critical conversations: Social transformation through language. Interactive Roundtable Session presented at the 14th annual conference of the International Leadership Association, Leadership Across the Great Divides: Bridging Cultures, Contexts, and Complexities, Denver, CO, USA.
Critical conversations: Social transformation through language Jessica R. Dreistadt
“We start from negation, from dissonance. The dissonance can take many shapes. An
inarticulate mumble of discontent, tears of frustration, a scream of rage, a confident
roar. An unease, a confusion, a longing, a critical vibration.” – John Halloway
Everyday social justice leadership discourse has
implicit meaning and expressions of power. The
words used in conversation and mass
communications have specific political, social,
philosophical, and cultural connotations that
profoundly influence how the message is received,
interpreted, and internalized.The process of social
change leadership involves interactions with diverse
individuals and organizations including people who
are impacted by injustice, volunteers, donors,
community partners, government, and business. Each
interaction is an opportunity to create shared
understanding, strengthen relationships, galvanize
engagement, and generate commitment to the cause.
The quality of those interactions influence the
development and sustainability of social change
outcomes.
Analytical Lenses
“Actors are behaving rationally so long as they use predicates..in such a way that other
members of their life-worlds can recognize in these descriptions their own reactions to
similar situations” (Habermas, 1985a, p. 18-19).
“counterinstitutions are intended to dedifferentiate some parts of the formally organized
domains of action, remove them from the clutches of the steering media, and return
these “liberated areas” to the action-coordinating mechanism of reaching
understanding” (Habermas, 1985b, p. 398).
“According to what rules has a particular statement been made, and consequently
according to what rules could other similar statements be made?...How is it that one
particular statement appeared rather than another?” (Foucalt, 2010, p. 27).
Some Examples of Social Justice
Communication
(not necessarily representative of all
organizations)
“we seek to strengthen the struggle
for social justice.”
“creating communities that are free
of oppression”
“we believe in and fight for social
change.”
“wedemandpeace”
“Occupy___________”
Dreistadt, J. (2012, October). Critical conversations: Social transformation through language. Interactive Roundtable Session presented at the 14th annual conference of the International Leadership Association, Leadership Across the Great Divides: Bridging Cultures, Contexts, and Complexities, Denver, CO, USA.
“If it is through communication that we have created differences, then it is through
communication that we can best resolve them” (Gergen, 2009, p. 4).
“A constructionist invites us to feel liberated, not needing to fight over what is ultimately
“right,” “real,” or “absolute;” creatively explore the taken for granted; be curious about
multiple views, positions, and values; search for new ways of talking that lead to
alternative possibilities” (Gergen, 2009, p. 38).
Discussion Questions
1. What is the purpose of the language used in social justice organizations? Is it to
detach, to reframe, or to create ideas and shared understanding? Are there
multiple purposes?
2. How does your organization, or organizations with which you are involved, use
language?
3. How do you respond to the language used by social justice organizations?
4. What unspoken rules are hidden within the language we use?
5. How do we justify using the language that we use?
6. How can we intentionally use language to create a better world?
References
Foucalt, M. (2010).The archaeology of knowledge. New York: Vintage.
Gergen, K. (2009). Constructing worlds together: Interpersonal Communication as
Relational Process. Boston: Allyn& Bacon.
Habermas, J. (1985a). The theory of communicative action, volume 1: Reason and the
rationalization of society. Boston: Beacon Press.
Habermas, J. (1985b). The theory of communicative action, volume 2: Lifeworld and
System: A critique of functionalist reason. Boston: Beacon Press.
Holloway, J. (1982) Change the world without taking power: The meaning of revolution
today. London: Pluto Press.