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Dominant voices and narratives
- Examine the predominant themes, perspectives, and authors in your reading list.
- Identify which voices (gender, ethnicity, geographical background) are most frequently represented.
- Determine which voices and narratives are missing.
Author diversity
- Actively include more readings by marginalised scholars.
- Consider the demographics of the authors (gender, ethnicity, cultural background).
- Aim for a balance in representation among the authors of your reading materials.
- Reflect on how the identity of the authors might influence their perspectives and the relevance of these perspectives to your course.
- Include works by marginalised scholars even when the topic is not specifically about marginalized groups.
Geographical coverage
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- Review the origins of the texts. Are they predominantly from Western or Euro-centric perspectives?
- Seek out texts from non-Western scholars and diverse cultural backgrounds.
- Aim for a variety of publication sources, including those from non-dominant regions.
- Consider the language of the text. Is it a translation, or in its original language?
- Ensure that translations are accurate and respectful of the original context.
Perspective and experience
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- Identify who is narrating the experiences or cultures discussed in the texts.
- Prioritize including texts where individuals from the discussed groups provide their own perspectives.
- What is the relevance of the authors identity in this context?
Academic value
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- Reflect on what kinds of sources are deemed most academically valuable.
- Challenge any biases that might favour certain types of sources over others.
- Categorise the importance of diverse readings (essential, background, etc.).
- Ensure diverse readings are not always categorized as supplementary or less important.
