Power: is a person’s ability to exert influence and control, essentially their ability to get things done. Every situation we walk into is shaped by power. Depending on the environment or someone’s identity some people hold more power, while others have less. 

Privilege: is a set of advantages that people receive because of their membership in a dominant social group. Privilege is often invisible to those who have it. You usually feel its absence not its presence.  

Image description: Diagram labelled ‘Wheel of Power/Privilege’ showing the different levels of marginalisation or power a person has in society depending on their characteristics.  Illustrated by educator Sylvia Duckworth.  “Power” is in the centre of the circle and “marginalised” is on the outside of the circle.   The categories are:  Skin colour - with dark on the edge and white in the middle  Formal education - with elementary education on the edge and post-secondary in the middle  Ability - with significant disability on the edge and able-bodied in the middle   Sexuality - with lesbian, bi, pan, asexual on the edge and heterosexual in the middle  Neurodiversity - with significant neurodivergence on the edge and neurotypical in the middle  Mental health - with vulnerable on the edge and robust in the middle  Body size - with large on the edge and slim in the middle   Housing - with homeless on the edge and owns property in the middle  Wealth - with poor on the edge and rich in the middle  Language - with non-English monolingual on the edge and English in the middle  Gender - with trans, intersex and non-binary on the edge and cisgender in the middle  Citizenship - with undocumented on the edge and citizen in the middle

Image description: Diagram labelled ‘Wheel of Power/Privilege’ showing the different levels of marginalisation or power a person has in society depending on their characteristics.  Illustrated by educator Sylvia Duckworth. 

“Power” is in the centre of the circle and “marginalised” is on the outside of the circle.  

The categories are: 

  • Skin colour – with dark on the edge and white in the middle 
  • Formal education – with elementary education on the edge and post-secondary in the middle 
  • Ability – with significant disability on the edge and able-bodied in the middle  
  • Sexuality – with lesbian, bi, pan, asexual on the edge and heterosexual in the middle 
  • Neurodiversity – with significant neurodivergence on the edge and neurotypical in the middle 
  • Mental health – with vulnerable on the edge and robust in the middle
  • Body size – with large on the edge and slim in the middle 
  • Housing – with homeless on the edge and owns property in the middle  
  • Wealth – with poor on the edge and rich in the middle
  • Language – with non-English monolingual on the edge and English in the middle   
  • Gender – with trans, intersex and non-binary on the edge and cisgender in the middle 
  • Citizenship – with undocumented on the edge and citizen in the middle 

Historically excluded or marginalised communities: Groups or communities that have been systematically discriminated against, excluded or oppressed by a dominant group over time due to factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, class, disability, religion or other social identities. This marginalisation often results in limited access to resources, opportunities and rights, reinforcing social, economic and political inequalities across generations. 

Intersectionality: “Intersectionality is a lens through which you can see where power comes and collides, where it locks and intersects. It is the acknowledgement that everyone has their own unique experience of discrimination and privilege” – author and activist Kimberlé Crenshaw 

Image description: A diagram labelled ‘Intersectionality’ showing how different identities can overlap. The identities (but are not limited to): race, ethnicity, gender identity, class, language, religion, ability, sexuality, mental health, age, education, attractiveness, (...and many more..).  The diagram is accompanied by the same quote from Kimberlé Crenshaw listed above. Illustrated by educator Sylvia Duckworth.

Image description: A diagram labelled ‘Intersectionality’ showing how different identities can overlap. The identities (but are not limited to): race, ethnicity, gender identity, class, language, religion, ability, sexuality, mental health, age, education, attractiveness, (…and many more..). 

The diagram is accompanied by the same quote from Kimberlé Crenshaw listed above. Illustrated by educator Sylvia Duckworth. 

Lived experience: the knowledge gained from personal experience. It recognises and acknowledges both the knowledge and agency that come from personal, direct experiences. It highlights the importance of personal experiences, not just academic or professional experience. 

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