Outdoor Spaces Need Representation from Diverse Faces
isa siamundo spring 2021
Outdoor Spaces Need Representation from Diverse Faces Communication Studies Capstone: Intervention University of Portland Isa Siamundo Spring 2021 Advised by: Natalie Nelson-Marsh, Ph.D, M
Table of Contents 1: Letter from the Editor 2-3: What is Representation 4-7: Importance of Representation in Environmentalism 8-9: What is Intersectionality 10-12: Intersectionality in Environmentalism 13: So what now? 14-15: Action Steps 16: Final Thoughts 17: You Belong 18: References 19: Special Thanks
Letter from the Editor As I found myself getting ready to close the chapter of college life soon, I knew I wanted to do something with my senior project that would mean a lot to me. I’ve been privileged enough to have grown up exploring the beauty of the outdoors, escaping to luscious green-filled spaces whenever I was overwhelmed and growing a deep appreciation for the Earth. Partway through college, I had this realization that protecting the environment and communicating environmental conservation and climate change to others was something I could see myself doing forever. I shifted my career aspirations and sought inspiration and learning wherever I could to start this new journey of calling myself an environmental advocate. I’ve since learned that I can’t speak about protecting the planet without first acknowledging how some people aren’t experiencing Earth or climate change the way I am. I’ve also realized that in the movement of environmentalism or even in outdoor recreation, I don’t see many people that look like me. That’s when I decided to conduct research on these ideas so I could better communicate them to others, why they matter, and where we go from here. I hope this zine and its little infographics leave you thinking about new ways you can aid in helping our beautiful planet and the people in it. - Isa Siamundo
photo by Pieter Benjamin all photos and artwork otherswise taken and designed by Isa Siamundo
1
2
3
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
13
14
15
16
References Drutman, K. (2021, March 11). Lack of Diversity in Environmental Non-Profits. Brown Girl Green. https://browngirlgreen.org/blog/lack-of-diversity-in-environmental-non-profits/ Fridays for Future [@fridaysforfuture]. (2021, February 16). [Examples and definitions of intersectional environmentalism] Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CLW-oUGn5j5/ Kaijser, A., & Kronsell, A., (2014) Climate change through the lens of intersectionality, Environmental Politics, 23:3, 417-433. Longdon, J., [@climateincolour]. (2020, June 5). [Features of Black women in the environmentalist realm]. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CBDMQTyDH3H/ Malin, S.A., & Ryder, S.A. (2018) Developing deeply intersectional environmental justice scholarship, Environmental Sociology, 4:1, 1-7. The Eco Justice Project [@ecojusticeproject]. (2020, August 8). [History of Black women pioneering environmentalism]. Retrieved from https://www.instagram.com/p/CDjxPQhHwT0/
18
Special Thanks This project and the research that furthered this project could not have been possible without so many individuals. I’m especially thankful for my mom and dad for supporting me through this project’s rigorous curation, Julia Oishi and Maddy McHugh for their continous encouragement during late nights and love from the very beginning of the process, Dr. Natalie Nelson-Marsh, my incredible advisor who was understanding, patient, and reassuring throughout all of this project, the absolutely inspiring interview participants of this study, all of my friends who provided kind words as I worked on this, namely, Dorothy Jiang, Meg Bender-Stephanski, Andre Jaiguiri, Margaux Lynch, and Celine Francois, and last but not least, you! Thank you for taking the time to go through this zine of mine. I hope reading and reflecting on the information in here provided you with some knowledge that you will take with you after you close this zine. You are important to me!
19
Outdoor Spaces Need Representation from Diverse Faces isa siamundo