~ THREE THINGS PEOPLE SHOULD KNOW ~
About Communicating Science to Bicultural and Bilingual Audiences
- Expect “hybridity” and “transculturation”. Youth are increasingly pushing beyond singular labels to express their complex identities, reclaiming and remixing elements of their cultural heritage (e.g. Puerto Rican, Colombian, Chicanx), U.S. context (e.g. the Bronx, Fresno, Columbia Heights), and individual intersection (e.g. queer, nerd, foodie). Reggaeton is one example in music.
- Resist individualism. It’s okay if you don’t have personal experience with diverse cultures, but do your part and find a bicultural partner to collaborate with. Sharing bylines and learning together will push your potential and broaden your experience — and improve the reach and depth of your story or project.
- Use graphics to cross language barriers. Using photos, infographics, and other visuals can be helpful, especially when communicating to an audience with many different language fluency levels.
Jenny’s Recommended Readings and Listenings!
- Algorithms of Oppression: How Search Engines Reinforce Racism | Safiya Umoja Noble PhD, 2018, New York University Press
- Bird of Paradise: How I Became Latina | Rachel Cepeda, 2014, Simon & Schuster
- Is Science Multicultural? Postcolonialisms, Feminisms, and Epistemologies | Sandra Harding PhD, 1998, Indiana University Press
- «Will Your Melanin Protect You from the Sun?» | Leah Donnella for NPR Code Switch | July 5, 2018
Jenny F. de la Hoz PhD is an Equity Consultant at the Center for Equity and Inclusion in Portland, Oregon. Follow @Fabiola_Science
Communicating Ciencia 