This document discusses affinity groups, which are groups that bring together people who share a common identity or experience. It defines affinity, alliance, and interest groups and explains their purposes. Some key benefits of affinity groups are that they provide safety, affirmation, and help build resilience. Successful affinity groups focus on pride over struggle, are inclusive, and have participant-driven curricula. Resistance to affinity groups sometimes comes from unacknowledged fear or resistance to empowerment. The document provides discussion points to counter resistance and resources on the topics of equality vs equity and privilege.

1. Meridian School
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
Seattle Girls’ School
Affinity Groups: What, Why, and How
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

2. About Seattle Girls’ School
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3. Agenda
 Basic Definitions
 Identifying the Value of Affinity Groups
 Success Factors for Affinity Groups
 Affinity Group Resistance
 Strengthening Communities
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4. Basic Definitions
The term affinity group is used as a
bringing together of people who have an
identifier in common, e.g. race, gender,
religion, family status, etc. Affinity groups
are for individuals who identify as members
of the group and can speak to the
experience of being a member of the group
from the “I” perspective.
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

5. Basic Definitions
The term alliance group is used as a
bringing together of people who have a
common commitment to an identifier group,
e.g. race, gender, religion, family status,
etc. Alliance groups are for individuals who
identify as members of the group and/or as
people who support and stand in solidarity
with that group.
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6. Basic Definitions
The term interest group is used as a
bringing together of people who want to
learn about, share, and engage in a special
interest, e.g. hobby, skill, topic, etc.
Interest groups are for individuals who want
to gather to teach, learn, and share.
Membership can be fluid and changing.
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7. Why Affinity Groups Are Great
 Safety and Comfort to be
Authentic
 Affirmation
 Critical Mass
 Identity Socialization
 Building Resilience
 Preparing to Engage
Deeply with Other Groups
 Empowerment Toward
Action
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8. Possible Affinity Group Curriculum
 Culture Share
 Celebrations of
Holidays/Events
 Identity Exercises
 Current Events
 Movies
 Field Trips
 “What Do I Do If…”
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9. Factors Leading to More Success
 Pride > Struggle
 Deflection of Blame
 Inclusive of Full Spectrum
 Who’s in the Room
 Participant Driven Curricula
 Opportunities to Share
 Collective Action
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10. Factors Leading to Less Success
 Lack of Consistency
 Lack of Budget
 Lack of Curricula
 Reinforcement of
Stereotypes
 Chauvinism
 Personal Agendas
 Visitors and Gawkers
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11. Reflection
What information was new,
useful, interesting,
worrisome, etc.? What
questions do you have?
What’s missing?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

12. Why Affinity Groups
Meet Resistance
 Unacknowledged Fear
of Assembly
 Unacknowledged
Resistance to
Empowerment
 Desire to Stay Ignorant
of Issues
 Privilege
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13. Resistance
• False Parallels
• Inverting the Injustice
• Outright Dismissal
• Minimization
• Righteousness
• Colorblindness
• Jealousy
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14. Talking Points for Affinity Groups
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15. Equality versus Equity
Everybody gets a shirt versus everybody
gets a shirt that fits.
Giving everybody some insulin in
equality. Giving only people who are
diabetic some insulin is equity.
What is “fair”?
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16. Conflation of Individual/Institutional
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17. Privilege
“Privilege exists when one group has
something of value that is denied to others
simply because of the groups they belong
to, rather than because of anything they’ve
done or failed to do.”
[as described by Peggy McIntosh and quoted by Allan Johnson]
Privilege is SYSTEMIC. It drives the
systems that dominate our societies.
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18. Situational Advantage
There are prime parking spots and seats
reserved for people with disabilities. People
with disabilities are often first to board
planes and other transportation vehicles.
These advantages are situational and do not
balance out systemic oppression.
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19. Reflection
What information was new,
useful, interesting,
worrisome, etc.? What
questions do you have?
What’s missing?
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)

20. Resources
Full resources, web links,
downloadable documents,
considerations, and more:
tiny.cc/affinitygroups
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21. Our Responsibility To Children
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22. Presenter Information
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee
6th Faculty and
Professional Outreach
Seattle Girls’ School
2706 S Jackson Street
Seattle WA 98144
(206) 805-6562
rlee@seattlegirlsschool.org
http://tiny.cc/rosettalee
Rosetta Eun Ryong Lee (http://tiny.cc/rosettalee)