This week I am joined by the remarkable Cynthia Fortlage, a Belfast-born Canadian raised global gender diversity speaker and consultant, and we are getting into "Acceptance without Understanding."
In this episode, Cynthia shares her wealth of knowledge and personal experiences touching on gender, identity, diversity, and the challenge of navigating societal norms.
We discuss the complex layers of human identity and how understanding our interactions with each other can shape the way we start to create acceptance for each other - especially with people who are different to us.
Three Key Takeaways from Today's Episode:
1. The Power of Acceptance: Cynthia emphasises the importance of creating environments where people are accepted even when they are not fully understood, proposing that acceptance can precede understanding if we're open to it, leading to healthier discussions.
2. Deconstructing Gender Perceptions: We explore how societal, cultural, and historical perceptions shape our views on gender and identity. Cynthia shares insights from her personal journey as a transgender woman and from her professional experiences, illustrating how new perspectives can deconstruct entrenched gender biases.
3. Impact of Societal Norms and Safety: The discussion also covers how societal norms influence individual behaviour and safety, especially relating to gender roles. Cynthia talks about her adjustment to loss of perceived male privileges and how this has influenced her understanding of safety and acceptance in various spaces.
**Reflective Question for Our Listeners:**
As you listen to today’s discussion, think about what it means to accept someone without fully understanding every aspect of their identity.
Can you think of a time when you practiced acceptance, and what impact did this have on your relationship with that person or people?
Fancy joining us for an entertaining conversation that will also challenges your norms and broaden your thinking?
Of course you do! So welcome along...
