The Six Stages Conceptual Framework
Key principles of the framework:
- Supporting individuals to understand and challenge racism
- Exploring and identifying beliefs, values and behaviours of individuals and organizations
- Appreciating that racism exists in all racial groups and at different levels
- Understanding basic survival instincts and challenging one’s own prejudice
- Exploring Steps for Coming out of Caves of Privilege-Cultural or Racial
- Understanding that the first step for change starts with the self
- Building Bridges of Empathy
- Beyond Unconscious Bias
- Understanding the role of Emotional Intelligence in DEI
The Six Stages of Understanding and Dealing with Racism (+ve and -ve axis) are as follows:
- Stage – 6: Extremists/leadership
- Strong racist views and work to champion them to others and recruit others to join them.
- Stage – 5: Entrenched views and behaviours
- Exhibit strong racist views and enjoy sharing them with others.
- Stage – 4: Anger and blaming of ethnic minorities
- Likely to attack and reject the views of those who are different. Extreme ways of thinking and behaving.
- Stage – 3: Attacking and rejecting
- Resenting time spent on race, display of outrage whilst projecting one’s own racism onto others
- Stage – 2: Dismissive and avoidant
- Dismissive of issues of race, pretending that racial and social injustice do not exist
- Stage – 1: Unaware, silence and denial
- Lack of awareness, Ignorance, oblivious, silence and denial
- Stage + 1: Unaware, silence and denial
- Lack of awareness, Ignorance, oblivious, silence and denial
- Stage + 2: Dismissive and avoidant
- Dismissive of issues of race, pretending that racial and social injustice do not exist
- Stage + 3: Becoming aware of issues of race
- Becoming more aware of differences and racism, and questioning. Recognise inequity and racism but do not understand why or what they can do about it.
- Stage + 4: Open to learning
- Open to learning and having meaningful conversations- challenging one’s perceptions
- Stage + 5: Ability to see the bigger picture
- Ability to reflect and genuinely engage. Starting to see the bigger picture around race- paradigm shift
- Stage + 6: Leadership qualities
- Ability to take on a leadership role in promoting racial equity and social justice. Joining with others for the greater good and for the sake of Humanity.
