Find the brief to the provocation here: Developing Brave Spaces — Fostering Environments for Critical Thinking, Discomfort and Growth by Curtis Bourassa
Safe Space vs. Brave Space
Safe spaces and brave spaces have often been discussed in the context of creating more inclusive environments for community-building. While both ideas foster understanding and growth, they diverge in their approach to discomfort, accountability and conflict resolution.
Safe spaces often prioritize emotional safety, support and inclusivity, as they were originally created by marginalized groups for marginalized groups. Often they are non-confrontational, providing emotional validation and affirmation, with guidelines often focused on minimizing harm or offensive behavior, language, and ideas.
However, safe spaces can often create echo chambers or discourage confrontation of biases, limiting open dialogue or critical engagement with uncomfortable truths.
From the above Youtube video, Jama emphasizes that “it is a dangerous practice if safe spaces are all that we use”, as it forecloses the opportunity for change, does nothing to address structural issues that exist, and can often help reinforce and maintain the status quo.
On the other hand, brave spaces emphasizes embracing discomfort as a key to growth and understanding, and “calling in” –rather than “calling out”– those with different viewpoints to engage in conversation from a perspective of curiosity rather than assumptions or defensiveness.
“The mark of an educated mind is to entertain a thought without accepting it, listen to each other even if we disagree or have different opinions, without it being a threat on our identity”
— Carol Cabrera in “From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces”
Components for Developing a Braver Space
Based on the provided resources, I think some core characteristics and guidelines include:
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- Authenticity, Vulnerability and Empathy
- Discomfort: normalize discomfort, especially when moving through conflict
- Growth Mindset: being open to having your mind changed
- Radical Candor: being able to challenge ideas while being personable
- Clear Guidelines and Skillful Facilitation
Brave Spaces in the Workplace
Below are reflections based on my current workplace and how it aligns with the characteristics of brave spaces, and some potential solutions to foster a braver space.
There seems to be a divide between the faculty members and union staff members, combined with office politics, there seems to be an unbalance of power dynamics, which may prevent more open-dialogue or equitable collaboration, leading to disengagement or trust from team members.
There seems to be a prioritization of experience over innovation where younger or less experienced voices may feel undervalued or dismissed, creating challenges between team members when it comes to collaboration on problem-solving.
Sometimes the team leader’s lack of approachability inhibits honest communication between team members, and there may be hesitation to express concerns leading to hierarchical culture that stifles feedback and transparency.
I think one big potential solution to foster a braver space is creating more time and space for team-building events or internal diversity, equity and inclusion workshops, which will create the opportunity for reducing hierarchical divides, fostering a more cohesive team dynamic, further promoting an office culture where both experiences and fresh perspectives can be seen as assets, and encourage more constructive dialogue where team members can voice concerns, suggest changes or address workplace dynamics in a safer moderated environment.