Reflection: Speaker Cassandra Brentley on Income Disparities and Education in Pittsburgh

Cassandra Brentley brings up the point of equity as she talks about the different ways disadvantaged groups are treated. Instead of using the word equality that gives people the same resources, we use the equity that caters to resources differently to groups that need them. The class has talked about designing with equity in mind but as Brently showed different infographics it became more clear that equity should be focused on. In addition, there is more than just acknowledging the issue. She mentions that studies and research are “gap grazing”. They find the gaps, but it is an action that needs to be taken when addressing those gaps. When she introduced the term gap grazing I realized how many studies are only finding problems, but the solution is still unclear. However, I understand that finding solutions are easier said than done.

To that, when she showed the image of liberation, removing the problem altogether it does seem more simple than it actually is. Liberation may be a forward-thinking proposal as we can eliminate problems while addressing the gaps. When we now are shedding light on problems of systems there can be a realization when implementing systems that can unproportionate affect certain groups of people. An example she provided was the need to use computers to fill out forms that some families might not have access to. If the first time the proposal was brought up, with liberation and gap grazing in mind there could have been a conversation of better methods to obtain information. Overall, gap grazing and liberation seem to go hand in hand as gap grazing can be used to detect what problem could be “liberated.”