Fitting Out is the Key to Inclusion | Michèle Newton | TEDxUofT

TL;DR

The speaker recounts her lifelong journey of not fitting in, embracing her uniqueness, and advocating for others to fit out in a world centered around fitting in.

Transcript

foreign and I'm okay with it but it hasn't always been like that do you remember your first experience when you didn't fit in maybe it was when you were in elementary school and you didn't make any real friends or find a sense of belonging or you tried out for a sports team you got picked last or maybe not at all maybe you moved to a new community ... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ Fitting out can bring empowerment and a sense of belonging.
• 🥰 Embracing uniqueness and promoting self-love are essential in fitting out.
• ❓ Society's norms of fitting in can be harmful and exclusionary.
• 🌍 Creating an inclusive world requires valuing individual differences.
• ❓ It is crucial to challenge systems that enforce fitting in and perpetuate injustices.
• 🥺 Fitting out can lead to building a more equitable and inclusive society.
• 🤩 Self-acceptance and embracing one's uniqueness are key to fitting out.

Questions & Answers

Q: What was the speaker's first memory of not fitting in?

The speaker's first memory of not fitting in was at the age of five when she realized she was the only black student at a new school, leading to exclusion and racism.

Q: How did the speaker's experiences shape her view on fitting in versus fitting out?

The speaker realized that trying to fit in was futile, and embracing her uniqueness and fitting out brought a sense of empowerment and belonging.

Q: How did the speaker's interactions with other women of color influence her perspective on fitting out?

Through interviews with diverse women, the speaker found solidarity in not fitting in and embraced the idea of fitting out as a form of self-love and inclusion.

Q: What actions does the speaker propose to promote fitting out in society?

The speaker advocates for changing societal systems that enforce conformity, raising awareness of exclusion, and promoting unity in embracing individual differences.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The speaker shares her experiences of not fitting in from childhood to adulthood due to racial differences.

• Despite efforts to fit in, the speaker embraces her uniqueness and advocates for a fitting out movement.

• Through interviews with other women, the speaker finds solace in not fitting in and promotes self-love and inclusion.