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Module 3: Paper

Alyssa Azevedo

Organizational Leadership 350: Diversity and Organizations

Dr. Adam Henry

11 September 2022
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Personal Application:

I learned that socialization happens at birth “through no effort or decision or choice of

our own.” (Harro 2000) Seeing this written in words is easier to digest the concept vs being amid

it. When I was younger, I often felt the lack of necessities, money, and parental figures. Since I

don’t entirely remember the first step of socialization that happens through parents/ relatives, or

teachers. I recall the institutional and cultural socialization that took place. Often, I would look to

my counterparts in school. It was addictive to compare what I saw on a surface level. My mind

would narrate stories of the lives I imagined they lived. I recall two scenarios of a plethora that

took place during this period of socialization.

The first was one time I visited a friend’s house. This was often the scenario as I didn’t

have a stable home growing up. After spending the night in their lavish loved filled home, they

had plans for their day. I started the process of calling my mom from my friend’s home phone to

get picked up. Yet, I was unable to get ahold of her. Her addiction was strong at this point, and I

genuinely did not know if I would get picked up. Which felt horrible because at a deep level, I

knew that I was surrounded by parents that would never do the same to their child. I was positive

they would answer the phone and prioritize picking up their child.

Another socialization that took place was at school. In my generation there was often

homeless jokes. Kids often referenced the homeless as hobos. Many negative connotations

surrounded homelessness. My biggest fear was someone finding out that I was homeless. I was

terrified of the ramifications and social isolation that would come from that finding. Humans are

social animals, and we need the feeling of connectedness. This feeling doesn’t go away when

you become adult. It just evolves. It was confusing because I clung to the identity of being

homeless since there was a realness that surrounded not having a home. Megivern shares her
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experiences with homelessness and “reliance on the Salvation Army for meals”. (Megivern

2005) Which was also a real experience for me growing up. Living in multiple shelters

throughout my primary years up until eighth grade. Taking showers at churches. Also, often

going without eating. School was that safe place in a sense for me because it was the only

‘constant’ in my life. It was also exhausting because I worried about my mom’s whereabouts the

entire time. Truly struggling to engage with the learning materials at hand. Now reading

literature surrounding socialization it helps to understand that many people form their identity

around these experiences.

Framework for Understanding Social Identity Perspectives:

I enjoyed this activity; I spent a lot of time thinking of these scenarios as a child. I feel

extremely lucky to have not followed down paths of addiction like my parents. I am finishing

college with hopes of providing a different life experience for my children and breaking

generational patterns. Yet, I feel that it does not cover the mental aspect of this. Yes, we can

clearly narrate the differences that Clark and Justin may experience through the lives. My bigger

question is how they show up for the world after having said experiences. How do they self-

identify? What is each of their mental space like? Did they both have experiences where they had

to dissociate from their bodies? Was there anyone truly present in their lives? What do each of

them long for subconsciously? Since these are the situations that carry over into adult lives and

affect the workplace. How do we work through these when so many of us are unconscious and

still living in survival mode? Because we are a society that pushes the Myth of meritocracy

heavily. Foregoing any mental health help. Due to the stigma that surrounds mental health.

Spent
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Again- I enjoyed this activity. It is extremely real and faced around the world at even higher

extremes. I ran out of money on day eight. The first question of asking which job I would go

after. Even though I have experience in administrative work, I went with a warehouse worker.

Due to the simple fact, of underestimating myself. When a job description says attention to

detail, and strong English skills. I already count myself out. Even though I am about to graduate

college and only speak English. That is why I wonder how these adverse experiences effect

everyone. Some people will cling on to education because they are fascinated by it, some will do

it out of survival, and some will turn away from it entirely. I learned out of survival, and I still do

not feel confident in my abilities.

How do I Identify:

My ego has strongly attached to the theme of scarcity that has followed me throughout

the years. Yet, I am at a point in my life I have everything I dreamed about having. I have my

own family where my Fiancé and I take care of our two healthy children. I have a stable home,

food in the fridge, and surrounded by love. Yet, on paper I fall in the lower income tier along

with 23% of adults in my area. I feel abundant while also worrying about school debt that lingers

in the back of my mind. I don’t want to identify with the lack of no longer. I don’t want designer

anything. Other than access to truly clean water and a stable mental health space to be present

with my children.

Part II. Organizational Application:

This week’s discussion triggered a bias in me. I felt a extreme need to help those in the

Appalachian Mountains vs those on the Lakota Reservation. Even though both demographics can

benefit from help. I was bias due to the fact the children shown in the videos pulled at my heart

strings. Knowing that they are going without food and drinking soda, without healthy mental
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stimulation, and surrounded by drug abuse it was frightening. Yet, shared light on a shared

reality. The videos just furthered the fact that not everyone is starting at the same point. This may

impact the organization since physically showing up for work is different than being there

mentally. It poses the question of how do we foster an environment that is inclusive of this

diversity? How do we make everyone feel safe and supported, since support and safety are

different to all.
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References

Harro, B. (2000). Defining Cycle of Socialization, Readings for Diversity and Social Justice.

Harvey, C. (2011).  Does Social Class Make a Difference?, Pages 155-157. Understanding and
Managing Diversity: Readings, Cases, and Exercises. Fourth Edition. Pearson.  
Megivern, D. (2005). Supposed To Know Better. Accepting Privilege, Explorations in Privilege,
Oppression, and Diversity.