Nuances of Generational Transmission & Reinforcing Exclusion
"No one is disadvantaged by birth" This statement feels like a distant ideal in a world where labels and biases seem to mark our every step. But it’s true—no one is born with the burdens of exclusion or the privileges of power. Disadvantages that come from physical, cognitive, or health differences are inherent to a person, but the vast majority of societal disadvantages are constructed. They’re built, passed down, and constantly reinforced by the very communities we’re born into, shaped by traditions, expectations, and norms that have often been accepted without question for generations. As we grow, we absorb these norms, often unconsciously, and they dictate the privileges that some of us enjoy and the marginalization that others endure. The cycle of exclusion and discrimination is multifaceted, fueled by the active choices of some and passive inheritance by others. Breaking this cycle requires understanding how these biases are perpetuated and acknowledging that change i...