The document discusses diversity and self-care in the workplace. It notes that diversity matters and workplaces should challenge assumptions that undermine well-being. It advocates creating change from both top-down and bottom-up approaches. The author is passionate about equality and diversity, especially for women. They believe personal agency is important and that being overly critical in the short term does not create lasting change. The document calls for measuring equality and making real changes to address issues like unequal treatment and harassment.

1. DEN Diversity
University of Southampton
Considering Self Care
12th January 2018
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

2. Why I am here
• Diversity Matters
• We need help to
– Assume self-agency
– Challenge workplace
assumptions which
• Create and reward
corrosive behaviours
• Undermine personal
health and wellbeing
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk
Let’s create change from the top down and the bottom up

3. DEN Diversity Network is doing just
that!
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

4. My perspective
• I am passionate about equality and respect
• I am offended by privilege and entitlement –
but recognise that I have both
• I like to do what I like to do
• I often provide a women’s perspective – but
that is because where I want change to
happen most is related to women
• But – pick me up and personalise your
message
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

5. Me perspective
I believe that personal agency is key
Why?
Because of my journey…
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

6. We have friends 
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

7. Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

8. Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

9. Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

10. Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

11. Sharing stories
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk
Let’s set up a
system to
measure
equality and
make change
happen
so overworked
trying to show
how unequal
things are in our
workplace

12. My kickback
• Ranty woman
• Anonymous ‘diary’
puyblication
• Considering
standup/bright club
• Work to rule
• ’spats’ with colleagues
• Part of EPSRC network
bid in draft
• WW2 resistance teams
• Being a ranty woman
only helps in the short
term!
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

13. The so called ‘gender pipeline’
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

14. When we take ultimate action…
“Late last summer, for instance, Sara Ahmed very
publicly resigned as director of the Centre for
Feminist Research at Goldsmiths, University of
London, over the alleged sexual harassment of
students by staff. At about the same time, I too
found myself at a point of feminist snap – the
moment at which your faith in academia finally
yields to terminal antipathy – albeit for different
reasons.”
Liz Morrish, 2017
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

15. We all know when it happens…
• What do you do when
self care is eroded?
• What do you stop doing
when your self care is
eroded?
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

16. How we can equip ourselves?
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk

17. References/further reading
• Gros, F., 2014. A philosophy of walking. Verso Books.
• Morrish, L., 2017 Why the audit culture made me quit, Times Higher Educational
Supplement https://www.timeshighereducation.com/features/why-audit-culture-
made-me-quit
• Savonick, D. and Davidson, C.N. 2016 Gender Bias in Academe
http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/impactofsocialsciences/2016/03/08/gender-bias-in-
academe-an-annotated-bibliography/#new
•
Su White saw@ecs.soton.ac.uk