For me it is personal, and an ongoing journey. I am an immigrant to Australia, so I learned as a child about ‘difference’, though I have white skin and speak English.
Studying languages and cultures opened my eyes to different ways of thinking and looking at the world (not to mention different foods!). Stints living in Tokyo and London as an adult reinforced that. After being an international student in Japan, my first job in a university was as an international student advisor, helping students from all over the world navigate Australian culture and study.
When I lived in the UK, my daughter went to a primary school with speakers of 52 different languages. For her generation, diversity in all its forms is becoming the norm.
I was a uni student when my first friend came out to me as gay. Now I count many more friends, family members, neighbours and colleagues who identify as LGBTIQA+. When I came to work at UQ, becoming an Ally seemed like an obvious way of showing my support.
My mother influenced my feminist views from a young age. Despite that, I am still learning how much we are socialised to think and behave according to gender, and how limiting that can be.
As a society we are also becoming more aware of how multiple factors like gender, race and sexuality intersect to create further disadvantage. I want to try and counter that disadvantage as best I can, at UQ and beyond.
To do that I think we need to be as inclusive as possible. We need to celebrate our diversity.
Karen
Karen Perkins
EAIT Executive Manager
