Reflection on articles:
I am a bit confused about the use of “brave spaces” instead of “safe spaces,” in the article 7 Brave Campuses for LGBT Students in the South. They write that “…safe spaces are a privilege not available in some situations, such as these Southern Campuses.” While I agree that safe spaces may not be available, and may even be a minority, I am not sure about giving them the distinction of being a privilege. Privilege to me implies an advantage bestowed on a chosen group and though LGBT students may not feel like they are being bestowed safety, I don’t believe any group has the right to determine who gets to have “safety.” Safety, to me, is a right. Maybe I’ve misinterpreted what they are saying… I do believe that sometimes a person does have to be brave to stand up for their beliefs and rights, so schools that are brave spaces indicate to me that they have students who show courage in the face of adversity and receive some positive outcomes. I suppose if you stood up for a belief and did not have a positive outcome, you would still be brave, but the space would not be…show more content… As Simona Morales talks about in LGBT Students speak out, What it’s like to live in today’s South, this brave space can be a space where “Even if people don’t necessarily agree, they’re willing to listen.” And an unsafe space could be defined by Gerardo Arce’s comment about people not thinking for themselves, “…don’t really want to open themselves about their beliefs.” Either way, I was surprised at how long it has taken some of these Southern campuses, as thought leaders, to embrace acceptance, and to provide benefits to
