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IDP Resource: Listening & Learning with "I" Statements

Episode 3. Joy

In this episode, Natoshia, Rachel, and Tony talk about what it means when they feeljoy, how joy connects to the stories we tell about ourselves, and the importance of seeing one’s own experiences of joy represented in the world.

Episode transcript

Discussion Questions

  • In general, how are people in your social identity group(s) typically depicted in media (e.g., movies, TV shows, song lyrics, news)? Focusing on joy in particular, what messages did/do you receive about how people in your social identity group(s) should experience joy? E.g. what messages do I receive as a woman about what joy should look like for women?
  • How do you exercise control over the story that you tell about your own life? What do you want to make sure others know about you, and how do you share that with them?
  • Rachel shared that she saw joy as something she had minimal control over, and Natoshia expressed afterward that she viewed it as a conscious choice.
    • How did Natoshia effectively communicate her differing perspective
    • How do you typically communicate a difference in perspectives with others?

Writing Prompt

When have you seen your social identity group(s) represented in a positive way? How does it feel for you to see that? What would the world be like if your group(s) had consistent and positive representation in media, leadership, education, and other contexts?

Related Readings

Experiment with IDP’s latest offering: Listening & Learning with the “I” Statements podcast. This guide is an accompaniment to our podcast, “I” Statements, where people with different identities come together to share their own beliefs, experiences, and perspectives, demonstrating both the power and the possibility inherent in communicating across difference.

These episode guides are for people who would like to incorporate the podcast into their work with students and/or colleagues.

A Note About IDP Resources

Members of the Cornell community are welcome and encouraged to use IDP Resources for educational purposes. This representation of IDP intellectual property is provided for noncommercial, educational use by the Cornell community only. Permission is required from IDP to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of our materials for commercial use. For information on reprint and linking permissions, please contact idp@cornell.edu.

Cite this IDP Resource:

  • APA: Intergroup Dialogue Project. (2020, September). IDP Resource: Listening & Learning with “I” Statements, Episode 3. Joy. Intergroup Dialogue Project – Dialogue Across Difference. https://idp.cornell.edu/idp-resources/idp-resource-listening-and-learning-with-i-statements/idp-resource-listening-and-learning-with-i-statements-episode-3/
  • MLA: Intergroup Dialogue Project. “IDP Resource: Listening & Learning with “I” Statements, Episode 3. Joy.” Intergroup Dialogue Project – Dialogue Across Difference, Cornell University, September 2020, https://idp.cornell.edu/idp-resources/idp-resource-listening-and-learning-with-i-statements/idp-resource-listening-and-learning-with-i-statements-episode-3/
  • Chicago: Intergroup Dialogue Project, “IDP Resource: Listening & Learning with “I” Statements, Episode 3. Joy,” Intergroup Dialogue Project – Dialogue Across Difference, Cornell University, September 2020, https://idp.cornell.edu/idp-resources/idp-resource-listening-and-learning-with-i-statements/idp-resource-listening-and-learning-with-i-statements-episode-3/