The Theory of Being: Practices for Transforming Self and Communities Across Difference

Thisbook presents a state of the art -- robust and adaptable process, the Theory ofBeing, that offers strategies for working across Difference, and for embarkingon constructive dialogue around the issues that drive us apart, bothindividually and collectively. Whether around racial, gender, and/or socialclass inequity, core beliefs, uses of power or other points of culturalconflict, this book offers a research-validated approach, developed and refinedover twenty years, to engage in difficult dialogues. TheTheory of Beingincludes personal, relational, andcommunity practices that support individuals and communities to better workthrough the difficult dialogues necessary to transform systems of structuralinequity. It describes and offers applications of Being to help the readerunderstand and apply principles and practices that invite openness tocontroversy through facilitating deep reflection and shifting the focus ofconflict from individuals to centering the issue of contention as a Third Thingabout which participants can more safely express experiences and emotions. The editors and contributors to this book demonstrate throughcases and narratives how, through productively situating feelings ofvulnerability and anger -- individuals,organizations, and communities can work together to continuously evolveresponsive, inclusive, and equitable practices that value social and culturaldifferences. This book focuses on strategies for the "how" we interact,demonstrating an orientation to process rather than prioritizing outcomes. Aprocess-orientation can increase the quality of interaction between individuals,and the likelihood of traversing problems associated with controversial socialdifference in ways that result in sustainable strategies to disrupt systems ofoppression. A range of applications exemplify this approach throughout thetext. The primary audience is highereducation leaders and leaders-in-training including student affairsprofessional staff, campus administrators, higher education and student affairsfaculty, and undergraduate and graduate students. However, the approach has broadimplications for any persons who want to productively engage across Differencein their personal and/or professional lives.

• | Author: Sherry K. Watt, Duhita Mahatmya, Charles Martin-Stanley Ii, Milad Mohebali
• | Publisher: Stylus Publishing
• | Publication Date: Aug 19, 2022
• | Number of Pages: 247 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback/Education
• | ISBN-10: 164267365X
• | ISBN-13: 9781642673654