Notes on Tatiana Mack's Talk: How Privilege Defines Performance

Introduction

• Personal talk shared by Tatiana Mack.
• Importance of sharing personal context.

Background and Career Journey

• Aspiration to be a journalist, inspired by Christiane Amanpour.
• Involvement in journalism camps and newspaper staff during high school.
• Realization of journalism's power to shape narratives, both positively and negatively.
• Graduated during the 2008 American Recession, leading to a shift in career plans.
• Learned design skills at a young age through family business in pre-press printing.
• Gained extensive experience in design, working freelance after graduation.
• Worked at an agency for five years, helping expand the team and client work.

The Hard Reset

• Experienced burnout from working long hours for major brands (e.g., Nike, Taco Bell).
• Took a break by quitting job and traveling around Europe.
• Realized the importance of purpose and activism in her work.

Current Focus

• Identifies as an activist, merging skills in journalism, design, and activism.
• Title of talk: "How Privilege Defines Performance" (also framed as "Privilege Defines Perspective").

Defining Terms

• Defined privilege: special rights or advantages granted to specific groups.
• Common definitions related to privilege include race, class, gender, religion, physical ability, orientation, nationality, and mental ability.
• Default settings in tech: typically white, wealthy, cis male, Protestant, able-bodied, hetero, American, neurotypical.

Implicit Bias and Intersectionality

• Discussed the implicit association test regarding implicit bias.
• Importance of recognizing bias but focusing on action towards justice.
• Introduced the concept of intersectionality by Kimberlé Crenshaw and addressed systemic oppression.

Privilege and Power

• Privilege is not binary; everyone has some form of privilege.
• Affirmation that privilege alone is not harmful, but how it is used can be.
• Introduced the idea of privilege as a platform that influences opportunities.

The Impact of Capitalism

• Explained how capitalism perpetuates inequality and promotes meritocracy.
• Discussed the concept of meritocracy and its origins as a satire.

Ignorance and Bias

• Identified ignorance as a barrier to recognizing bias in tech.
• Highlighted examples of bias in technology (e.g., gender drop-down menus, accessibility issues).
• Discussed how tech often centers able-bodied and neurotypical experiences.

The Importance of Trust and Curiosity

• Advocated replacing empathy with trust and curiosity.
• Curiosity allows for better understanding of experiences outside one's own.

Diversity and Inclusion

• Defined diversity as being invited to the party; inclusion as being asked to dance.
• Emphasized the need for justice by allowing underrepresented voices to share their stories.

The Role of Self-Defined

• Introduced the self-defined dictionary project to provide evolving definitions for marginalized communities.
• Aim is to lessen the emotional labor placed on marginalized individuals to educate others.

Conclusion

• Encouraged attendees to reflect on their own privileges and to challenge biases in tech.
• Urged for action towards social responsibility and inclusivity in tech industries.
• Expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share and engage in these critical conversations.