Emma Macchabee

301388304
09/30/2023
Positionality Roundabout

Welcome to my positionality roundabout! On the roundabout, you will find various signs of
identities I have (age, race, gender, etc). This roundabout was created as an expansion to the
inclass intersection we made with Pooja. Positions included on my street signs are:

woman English need glasses ♡family and friends

she/her heterosexual non-disabled Alberta →B.C.

22 student teacher renter university graduate

white Irish + French Canadian middle-class agnostic

● Note: this list is flexible and can change if positions get added, removed, or changed.

Pooja’s activity on intersectionality really inspired me to dive deeper into my own

positionality and create a three-dimensional model of my unique intersection. Having it laid out
in a three-dimensional way has been eye-opening. It is currently placed on my desk next to me
and serves as a reminder of my position in society. Positionality is something I did not reflect
deeply on in the past, but through this course, I have come to understand that it is very important
to think about. I now recognize that my positionality shapes my thoughts, actions, and
relationships to others. As an educator, I need to acknowledge my positionality in order to better
support my students and create a classroom environment that is inclusive to all.
As DiAngelo and Sensoy (2014) state, I need to be aware of my relation to others in society
and the “blind spots'' I have. “Blind spots” are what I can and can’t see due to my social position
(DiAngelo & Sensoy, 2014). These create misunderstandings and assumptions. Thus, it is
important to recognize biases (both unconscious and conscious) in order to gain a better
understanding of others and society. As an educator, understanding this will lead to better
knowledge of and care for my students, as well as a more equitable classroom environment.
Further, acknowledging my positionality will make me more aware of why I respond a certain
way to various issues and how my actions affect others. The process of diving deeper into my
positionality and “blind spots'' undoubtedly involves deep reflection which may be challenging at
times, but I am inspired by DiAngelo and Sensoy’s article, as well as Pooja’s lecture, to keep
reflecting upon and exploring my positionality as I continue on my teaching journey. Overall, I
greatly enjoyed constructing my intersection. Everyone’s positionality intersection is unique, so
this process was very reflective for me as I dove deeper into my own individual positionality.

Works Cited
DiAngelo, R & Sensoy, Ö. (2014, January). Leaning in: A student’s guide to engaging
constructively with social justice content. In Radical Pedagogy, 11(1).
https://canvas.sfu.ca/courses/77211/files/22113744?module_item_id=3031966