90 15.2 Positionality Statement

I acknowledge that my identities and experiences have shaped my worldview. As such, this chapter is presented through the lens of my mostly privileged upbringing and perspectives. As a white, English-speaking cisgender woman of primarily European ancestry, it is easy for me to see myself represented in my local community of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, and in the media I consume.

I am a millennial raised until adolescence in a home with a stay-at-home mother and a blue-collar father. I had access to a family computer with Internet connectivity from age ten and a personal laptop from age thirteen. I attended well-funded institutions with access to higher-quality technology not afforded to lower-income communities. I seek for everyone, regardless of gender, ethnicity, economic status, or other defining traits, to have access to technology as I did. I also seek to understand better the societal barriers that prevent equitable access.

I have two college diplomas in Journalism and Business and am completing a university degree in Educational Studies. I also have over ten years of experience working as support staff in college registrar offices. While I overcame barriers in pursuing my educational and professional pursuits, my struggles were outweighed by the benefits afforded to me from these experiences, including access to newer technologies. I recognize that my positionality influences my understanding of this topic, and I will address this by challenging my unconscious biases and seeking input from marginalized communities.