Introduction to the Anti-Bias Ladder
From Vision to Image
Early one morning I was thinking about the four Anti-Bias Goals as set forth by Louise Derman-Sparks, Julie Olsen-Edwards, and others… when a vision came to me of a ladder that one climbed UP from Goal # 1 to Goal # 4 at the top. Usually, we read documents top to bottom, but when climbing a ladder, we usually go from the bottom to top. Why this vision of the ladder and why the climbing up? The vision puzzled me and as I pondered this unusual image, I realized that the missing piece for me, as I thought about the four goals, was the dynamic of power. I realized I needed to consider how power plays out in understanding the four goals. I also thought I needed to put this image forth to some of my colleagues to see how they might understand it and be able to make use of it to better integrate the four goals and power into our work. I brought it to our EPCC Writing Committee and they embraced it, struggled with it, and finally after two years together we created an image that we feel can be helpful as we consider the goals and power together.
As we were working with the ladder it came to our attention that some people might be confused by reading up from bottom to top. We realized that we needed to carefully explain the concept of using a paradigm shift to help people think differently. In the case of the “Anti-Bias Ladder,” we are adding a new component to the established Anti-Bias Goals: the power dynamic. Power is often considered to be a negative force. Hence, by reading UP the ladder, people have an opportunity to shift their thinking to integrate power and anti-bias. The queries for the goals help link power to implement each goal. This is the explanation of how going up the Ladder of Anti-Bias Goals to the treehouse of Peaceful Environments can help shift thinking to include the dynamic of power in our work for social justice.
Please enjoy this beautiful image, done through the collaborative work of many, and integrate it with your experiences of anti-bias and power dynamics. Share your stories, ask your questions, ponder and struggle a bit…and implement as you see fit.
This article is part of our Fall 2023 Newsletter. See all articles.
