Last month I attended the G.R.A.C.E. Summit — Growing Racial and Cultural Equity — and found it full of engaged and engaging people, hopeful energy, and creativity that will sustain the struggle. I was introduced to the concept of the Law of Two Feet.
The Law of Two Feet means you take responsibility for what you care about — standing up for that and using your own two feet to move to whatever place you can best contribute and/or learn.
What a great concept!
Part of the Open Space movement, the concept is smart, if the language is disabilist. It struck me as problematic then, but I wasn’t quite sure how to address it.
I have listened to a beloved colleague regularly express her righteous anger at language and attitudes that exclude her and others for whom agency and freedom and liberation does not take the form of standing. I have learned from her and other disability activists. I still have a long way to go but I am joining that path..
So I was rather pleased when, while attending my nephew’s not-a-wedding this weekend when they used a different, more inclusive version:
Same great concept, more inclusive. I’m not sure where the shift originated, but thank you to whomever. Blessings upon you.
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I was at the GRACE Summit, too (small UU world in New England, I guess), but while I’d noted that the Open Space model wasn’t particularly introvert-friendly, I hadn’t thought of the disablist language of the Law of Two Feet. I like your win-win revision.
Charity, I would like to think that introverts could choose to opt in or out as they are inspired in Open Space. And for clarity, the revision is not of my making. I am just amplifying it. Peace – Karen
Ah, I didn’t catch that it wasn’t your revision. Thank you for the clarification, Karen.
Opting out is always an option, but I think some minor changes would make Open Space more accessible to introverts, like allowing more time between explaining Open Space and putting up topics/choosing rooms, or allowing people to contribute topics for discussion without walking up in front of the group. And even opting out can be a challenge if doing so calls attention to the person opting out (like if they have to leave a crowded room).