Overview: Conflict Transformation – Power and Diversity

Welcome to our module on Power and Diversity! In this module, we will discuss various vectors of marginalization that affect people, meaning aspects of their social identity that cause them to be the target of discrimination from others. We will also discuss the ways in which some members of society benefit from privilege, whether or not they realize it. 

Importantly, most of us have both: aspects of our social identities that confer privilege and ones that incur marginalization. These vectors intersectionally. The goal of this exercise is to not cast blame on anyone or to make us feel guilty, but rather to realize in what ways we might have power to support others and in what ways we might need additional support.

Activities:

• * Reflection Journal 6: Diversity, Conflict, and You
• * Discussion 9: Benefits and Risks of Conflict Transformation in RPGs.
• * Discussion 10: Applying Conflict Transformation to Your Life

Note: If you have already read the Leonard, Janjetovic, and Usman article in an earlier module, instead watch Leonard’s video.

Required materials:

Videos:

Harvard Divinity School. “Types of Violence.”

Readings:

Bowman, S. L., Diakolambrianou, E., & Brind, S. (Eds.). (2024). Transformative Role-playing Game Design. Acta Universitatis Upsaliensis. Transformative Play Research 1. Uppsala University Publications. (Read p. 244-255)
Available at: https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/98272
(Note: You don’t need to read the whole book, only the specified pages)

Choose one (1) of the following:

Leonard, D. J., Janjetovic, J., & Usman, M. (2021). Playing to experience marginalization: Benefits and drawbacks of ‘dark tourism’ in larp. International Journal of Role-Playing, (11), 25-47.
https://doi.org/10.33063/ijrp.vi11.282

If you have already read the article, instead watch:

Transformative Play Initiative. (2021, September 24). Playing for Pain: Benefits, Pitfalls, & Strategies for RPing Marginalized Characters – Diana Leonard [Video]. YouTube. 
https://youtu.be/-0KJo46vtNE?si=WDWcQH2C90xtrGeB 

Further materials in the field:

Resolutions Northwest. 2020. “The ‘Isms.” Adapted from Equity-Informed Mediation Training by Austin Community College. Conflict Transformation Academy.

Note: The “‘Isms” materials were created in an American context. Please translate to your own context and understanding of privilege and marginalization.