Activity: “Whose Story Is It?”
Time: 10–12 minutes
Format: Pairs or small groups
DISCUSSION PROMPTS
In pairs/groups, ask:
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What barrier or culture code is shaping this story?
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Is this really about the person or the system?
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How could we reframe the story in a way that puts the responsibility on the system, not the individual?
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What could an inclusive leader (peer, manager, tutor) do differently here?
Three Stories
Story 1 – Impostor Feeling
Amira is on her placement in aerospace. She’s the only woman in her team. After a meeting where her idea wasn’t acknowledged until a male colleague repeated it, she tells herself, “I must not have explained it clearly. Maybe I’m just not cut out for this level of engineering.”
Story 2 – Stereotype Threat
Kofi, a Black engineering student, is in an interview panel where one member keeps asking about “fitting in.” Kofi starts worrying they see him as different and gives shorter, less confident answers than usual.
Story 3 – Structural Barrier
Ellie is autistic and finds timed, rapid-fire interview questions overwhelming. She freezes and doesn’t get the internship, even though she has all the technical knowledge.