Book Review: Explorations in Diversity, Examining the Complexities of Privilege, Discrimination, and Oppression

Explorations in Diversity: Examining the Complexities of Privilege (3rd Edition), Discrimination, and Oppression, edited by Sharon K. Anderson and Valerie A. Middleton, Oxford University Press, ISBN: 9780190617059, New York, NY, 2018, 332 pages, $55 paperback.

    Explorations in Diversity, Examining the Complexities of Privilege, Discrimination, and Oppression features professionals navigating their racial and cultural identity development, sexual identity, socioeconomic status, levels of oppression, and privileges.  Through these stories, the authors create a better understanding of how intersectionality influences personal and professional growth through identified struggles, educational opportunities, insight, and experiences.

    Anderson and Middleton have provided an excellent collection of intimate stories to humanize our self-discovery in understanding our values, social constructs, isms, and worldviews. These stories set the tone to model “leaning in,” learning, getting uncomfortable, and making change. These authors are taking off the veil and assisting students, educators, clinicians, and clients in intentional exploration of self to truly understand meeting clients where they are and providing an opportunity for conversations, language development, and culturally humble practice.   

    Furthermore, the authors highlight the complexity of societal change occurring around the globe by including stories of diverse practitioners providing interventions to white clients, as this perspective has been mostly overlooked or ignored. Many people identify with impostor syndrome and struggle to understand the development behind our experiences. The authors highlight the importance of sharing their narratives of internalized oppression, learning to challenge privileges, and encouraging new practitioners to discuss these issues with prompting questions at the end of each section. This allows all of us—student, professor, clinician, ally, and client—to work toward societal growth and humility through conversations and experiences that affect us all.   

    We must confront, challenge, explore, and learn from one another to truly engage in the anti-racist movement.  Anderson and Middleton have created a dynamic way to model communication about race, diversity, discrimination, privilege, and oppression through lived experience. This book strengthens our practice and our communities by creating an opportunity to listen, learn, and talk about the complexities of diversity in this unjust world.  

Reviewed by Michelle Sunkel, DSW, LCSW, LAC, MBE, Director of Field Education/Assistant Professor of Social Work, Colorado Mesa University.