4.4: Representations, Inclusivity and Belonging

Mikahelia Wellington; Sherana Syed; Emanuel Tessema

🛠️ Chapter 4: Relevance to Practice

28 4.4: Representations, Inclusivity and Belonging

“Seeing a Black program director for the MAN program at Guelph provided comfort in knowing there ARE Black detitians and ones who hold positions of power in the educational system. Seeing a face like mine made me feel all my efforts to that point were not in vain. Although I had not been accepted to the program as yet, it was reassuring to see a face like mine.” — Canadian Dietetic Research Student

Representation and Inclusivity

Representation and advocacy are critical for addressing issues of burnout and ensuring that diverse perspectives are included within the dietetics profession. Increasing representation of Black dietitians can help to combat systemic biases and improve cultural competency in healthcare. The Canadian Black Registered Dietitians Association (CBRDA) is dedicated to advocating for Black dietitians and enhancing the profession’s inclusivity.

Video 4.3: Founders of the Canadian Black Registered Dietitians Association, Zoe Barnett and Bianca Cordeiro from Ontario, discuss the challenges of representation and support for Black dietitians in Canada. They emphasize the importance of diversifying the profession to better serve and reflect the communities they support.

Stop and Reflect: Creating Safe Spaces

On a scale where “high” means that you feel very connected, accepted, valued and safe to be your authentic self, and where “low” means that you feel othered, isolated, estranged, and a need to assimilate because you do not feel safe to be your authentic self, how would you rate your sense of belonging in the food, nutrition or dietetic profession?

2. If you feel a sense of belonging, reflect on how it was established. Does it exist because you feel welcome or did you have to create a space for yourself? Write down your thoughts:

Type your reflection below:

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Video 4.4: Four Black dietitians from across Canada talk about their experiences of exclusion, seeking belonging and the value of Black representation in the profession.

Belonging

“I was the only Black person in the building during one of my placements.” — (Wellington, Lee, Ng, & Mensah, 2021)

Belonging in the Profession

Whether you reflect on the types of foods excluded from the previous and current Canadian Food Guides, examine the demographic of your undergraduate or Master’s student cohort, or the dietitians on staff at your educational, healthcare or regulatory institution, your observations ought to prompt you to question whether Black Canadians feel a sense of belonging within the institution. Wellington, Lee, Ng, & Mensah (2021) describe the feelings of exclusion and being “othered” that BIPOC students often experience in the dietetic journey, which leads them to seek a sense of belonging from non-dietetic communities that offer recognition and validation of their experiences. They describe these alternative communities as “safe spaces”. Alternatively, in an effort to make safe spaces within the predominantly white institution, Black dietitians often face barriers. Reamer (2016) describes this barrier as “disinterest” from her peers to engage in conversations about inclusion and social justice, while Brady (2020), Joy & Numer (2016 ) describe it as a silence that may stem from avoidance in acknowledging positions of privilege, lack of competency in having conversations about social justice and the misconception that these topics are not within the scope of practice. The field of food, nutrition and dietetics cannot hope to solve its own systems of exclusion when it dismisses Black identities and experiences as part of the culture of the professional community.

Belonging in Care and Community

Belonging also matters for clients, patients, families, and community members. In nutrition and healthcare settings, people should feel that their identities, cultures, foodways, lived experiences, and ways of knowing are respected rather than treated as barriers to care. For Black clients and communities, fostering belonging includes creating environments where people feel seen, heard, and valued, and where they can participate meaningfully in decisions about their health without being expected to assimilate, defend their cultural practices, or navigate racism to receive respectful care.

Video 4.5: Black Canadian Registered Dietitians from Alberta, Quebec, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island explain how important it is that Black Canadian patients feel like they belong and are represented in the health care space.

Coming Soon! Branching scenario entitled “Put some respect on her name”. Theme: LTC, microaggressions, belonging, and interpersonal racism)

Additional Resource:

There are more BIPOC dietitians advocating for diversity. Diversify Dietetics is an organization started in the United States of America that has a Canadian Chapter. Learn more about how you can get involved on the Diversify Dietetics website.