The 3Ps and 4Rs of Technical Communication

Below is a visual representation of key points from the book "Technical Communication After the Social Justice Turn: Building Coalitions for Action," by Rebecca Walton, Kristen R. Moore, and Natasha N. Jones. (This blog is best enjoyed from the bottom up.) I created this page (with the knowledge of the authors) as a cheat sheet. Walton's, Moore's and Jones' work is very in-depth, but I can't read the whole book everyday. I wanted to figure out a fun, creative way to build something that I and others could reference (even if we're just checking this once or twice a week) as a reminder to consider others in the work we do. The 3Ps and The 4Rs require reflection and practice. Below are references to their work, quotes and ideas from the book, visuals and work that is cohesive with the ideas expressed in the book and some of my own ideas about the purpose of both technical communication and what it means to be a good communicator in general. I hope this helps myself and others become better at what we do. NOTE: This blog is in no way meant to replace the need for you to read "Technical Communications After the Social Justice Turn." PLEASE READ THE BOOK. Some of these postings will only make sense if you have read it. --Erica Horton

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Technical Communication After the Social Justice Turn: Building Coalitions for Action by Rebecca Walton, Kristen R. Moore, and Natasha N. Jones is a thoroughly researched call to action to technical communicators of all fields and career points. The authors demand that technical communicators examine and correct past practices, theories and language in the field to build new practices. With the 3Ps—positionality, privilege and power and the 4Rs—recognize, reveal, reject and replace, this book serves as a guide to restructure the way technical communicators apply their services. 

 https://www.amazon.com/s?k=technical+communication+after+the+social+justice+turn&crid=2WQE2K88KL1S7&sprefix=technical+comm%2Caps%2C188&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_4_14

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The Social Justice Phrase Guide

The Social Justice Phrase Guide is two-page guide created by Advancement Project, in collaboration with The Opportunity Agenda. This guide puts forth five guidelines for conscientious communication…

This. is. amazing. I literally danced when I found it. 

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Beautifully Designed Documents that Just so Happen to feature my Favorite Women’s Organizations

This is a list of my top three favorite annual reports from Women’s Foundations. Their work is justice in action and I like the way technical communication and design mesh to showcase their achievements and ongoing efforts. In my opinion, their work and collateral are great examples of Social Justice at work in Technical Communication. (So, yes, this is very much an appreciation post :) and sorry for the links in post. Tumblr is being weird.) 

Ms. Foundation for Women, 2018 Annual Report: https://tinyurl.com/wnsp8r7

New York Women’s Foundation, 2018 Annual Report: https://tinyurl.com/tfxxv47

Women’s Foundation of Minnesota: https://tinyurl.com/u9zs9b

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“It’s well-known that tech has a gender and a racial diversity problem. As of 2016, the most recent year for which figures are available, Google’s workforce was only 2% black and 31% female. Butterfield-Jones has been tasked with helping the company better reflect the diverse world it works in. “It's trying to disrupt the status quo,” she says, with a smile that belies her determination.”

Link here: https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a22675904/tech-has-a-huge-diversity-problem-this-woman-is-determined-to-fix-it/

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What’s in Store: Moving Away from Gender-based Signs

"...we never want guests or their families to feel frustrated or limited by the way things are presented. Over the past year, guests have raised important questions about a handful of signs in our stores that offer product suggestions based on gender."

Read the whole release here: https://corporate.target.com/article/2015/08/gender-based-signs-corporate 

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“Comcast and Connect Direct have partnered to provide direct customer support in ASL for Comcast deaf customers for support related to Xfinity Internet service, billing, and Internet Essentials program. Visit xfinity.com/asl and click on ASL Now to get customer support directly in ASL!”

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“We believe equal access to digital content is the right of every individual and the responsibility of every entity.

Our suite of products and services are designed to enable equal access, enhance the user experience for all, and provide sustainable, results-driven accessibility solutions for any enterprise with an online presence.

Founded as an R&D company in 2005, today AudioEye is the most trusted digital accessibility solution available.

We make accessibility accessible.”

Link here: https://tinyurl.com/rl2qkh5 

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Shop Women's Plus Size clothing, accessibility statement & more at Torrid.com - The Destination for Trendy Plus-size Fashion & Accessories.

I went to one of my favorite retail sites to see what efforts they were making to make their site accessible. Here’s what I found: https://www.torrid.com/accessibility-statement/ 

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“Designing inclusive software results in improved usability and customer satisfaction. Get inspired by these stories of accessible technology products.” 

Link here: https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/accessible-apps

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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government’ programs and services. As it relates to employment, Title I of the ADA protects the rights of both employees and job seekers.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in several areas, including employment, transportation, public accommodations, communications and access to state and local government’ programs and services.”

Link here: https://www.dol.gov/general/topic/disability/ada

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Beyoncé’s Website Violates Americans With Disabilities Act, Lawsuit Claims

A class action suit asserts that Beyonce.com is inaccessible to blind users

“Beyoncé’s company Parkwood Entertainment is facing a class action lawsuit which claims that Beyonce.com denies equal access to visually impaired users, THR reports. The lawsuit—filed today by New York woman Mary Conner, who is blind—argues that the website violates the Americans with Disabilities Act by being “an exclusively visual interface” without any coded alt-text behind the images.” 

Link here: https://pitchfork.com/news/beyonces-website-violates-americans-with-disabilities-act-lawsuit-claims/ 

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Recognizing how we might be contributing to systems of oppression is not enough; it doesn't prepare us to shift our actions. Instead, it helps us see that the systems, organizations, and institutions where we work prioritize particular experiences and groups of people. When that prioritization gets built into our policies, procedures and daily routines, those who are already marginalized struggle to be heard, valued, or treated fairly.

Page 139, Walton, Moore, Jones

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‘For Us, by Us’: Inside the New Social Spaces for People of Color

In New York City, there’s a growing movement when it comes to places to gather.

"There are very few spaces where men of color can come together and engage in meaningful dialogue, said Rubain Dorancy, a member who is also an attorney and an educational consultant. “At the Gentlemen's Factory, you will find men of all ages and with varied backgrounds, engaging, supporting and uplifting each other."

Link here: https://tinyurl.com/uojujws

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Here Are 21 Free Resources for Teaching Social Justice in the Classroom

Resources for teaching about inclusion, diversity, and equity.

“From habeus corpus for Native Americans, to women’s suffrage, to civil rights, none of these freedoms were granted without collective organizing. Unfortunately, many of these stories are invisible. But it doesn’t have to be this way.” 

Link: https://tinyurl.com/qm87xrs