Mission statement

ZIGI's mission is to end marginalization based on gender identity and expression at the Zuckerman Institute.

We aim to engage the entire ZI community to build an equitable and transparent Institute, where everyone can express their true self.

Core values

ZIGI Core Values & Community Participation Guidelines

This page summarizes 4 core values of the ZI Gender Inclusion (ZIGI) group – Respect, Community, Empowerment, and Change – and outlines specific behaviors that exemplify each core value. This statement was written by ZIGI members, and everyone who is part of the ZIGI community is invited to provide input (this statement will be updated on a regular basis). The purpose of this statement is to define the collective values and beliefs that are shared by everyone who identifies as a ZIGI member. We hope that these shared values can serve as a guiding principle for participation in ZIGI-related activities (e.g., seminars, workshops, book clubs…), but can also serve as a general guideline on how to work towards gender inclusion, equity, and belonging at ZI and beyond. 

Respect

We respect the right of each individual to self-identify and express their gender. We acknowledge and celebrate the diversity of gender identities at ZI and strive to shift the culture beyond the female/male binary. In order to achieve this:

  • We treat everyone around us with respect, compassion, and without judgment;

  • We address everyone by the pronouns they use (e.g., they/them; she/her; he/him etc.). We also invite ZIGI members to introduce themselves with their pronouns and include them in their zoom name/email signature, if they are comfortable doing that.

  • We commit to educating ourselves and others on the diversity of gender identities and experiences, including using the appropriate language when discussing gender issues. We strive to share information and resources on these topics with our community and beyond, e.g., via our website. 

  • During our events, we invite participants to disclose any aspects of their identity that they feel comfortable sharing. This may include their gender identity and expression as well as other intersecting identities, including, but not limited to, ability, age, appearance, career stage, civil/family status, culture, education, ethnicity, language, nationality, personality, political affiliation, political/philosophical beliefs, profession, race, religion/spirituality (or lack thereof), sex, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, tribal or indigenous affiliation etc. 

  • If participants choose to not disclose aspects of their identity, we respect their choice.

  • We aim to create a culture where we do not make assumptions about others’ identities based on their names, or the way they look or speak.

  • We commit to speaking up against instances of discrimination, harassment, or racism and will not tolerate any form of disrespectful, aggressive, or toxic behavior.

Community

We strive to build a community that is a collective of ideas and experiences, where everyone feels safe, respected, and valued regardless of their gender identity or expression. We stand for the right of everyone to express their real and authentic selves, while being open-minded, respectful, honest, compassionate and grateful towards others’ willingness to share their perspective and life stories. To build this community:

  • We show gratitude for anyone willing to share their opinion and experiences.

  • We respect everyone’s  point of view – thoughts and silences.

  • We acknowledge that individuals are at different stages of their own personal journey.

  • We commit to holding ourselves accountable for the actions we take and the mistakes we make. 

  • We will organize events to facilitate a continuous dialog between members of our large and diverse ZI community and create spaces for members to share their thoughts and opinions.

  • We commit to making our events and activities accessible to everyone.

  • We encourage everyone to participate in shaping ZIGI’s mission, whatever the time and effort they can dedicate. We are a living and ever-morphing community whose continuity will build on the contributions of many.

Empowerment: We stand with others on their own terms* 

We aim to empower people at ZI who have been historically marginalized in STEM fields due to their gender identity or expression. We recognize and acknowledge the unique set of obstacles faced by individuals with multiple, intersecting marginalized identities (e.g., gender minorities in the BIPOC community). We strive to bring visibility to, and promote, these individuals and create a positive, collaborative atmosphere in which ZIGI members build each other up and support one another. To achieve this:

  • We will celebrate each other’s achievements (e.g., scientific discoveries and communications, career advancements, personal achievements, engagement with the community both in and outside science). 

  • We will amplify voices of individuals from marginalized groups. 

  • We aim to create a space that facilitates networking and mentorship opportunities. This includes opportunities to have both scientific, career, and life discussions for members at various career stages and trajectories. We will further leverage existing structures, such as the Board of Advisors and the ZI Postdoc Network, in order to facilitate career support and professional development. 

  • We strive to be an ally to others, but recognize that “We are not an ally until someone else acknowledges our allyship” (Quote from Dr. Dana Crawford, Zuckerman Institute Scholar in Residence).

*(CLEAR Lab Book, 2021, https://civiclaboratory.nl/clear-lab-book/)

Driving positive change for long-lasting impact 

We believe that, as a community, we have the power to drive positive change: We aim to identify any current structures that create inequities and power imbalances, with the long term goal to make ZI an environment where everyone can thrive and feel like they truly belong. 

  • We strive for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at all levels of ZI, and believe that this will ultimately benefit everyone at our Institute. 

  • We seek transparency about decisions made by ZI/Columbia leadership with regard to issues such as recruitment, pay, parental leave, childcare services etc. We aim to make information about these issues available to the ZI community in order to raise awareness, and ultimately, identify actions we can take to address inequities and advocate for institutional changes. 

  • We commit to taking note of gender identifiers that are used in the official language of the University and to speaking up if the only options suggest binary gender.

  • We believe that long-lasting impact requires ongoing conversations that involve everyone in our community. We aim to facilitate these conversations by organizing seminar series, book clubs, workshops, and social events.

  • We further strive to collaborate with scientists who study gender inequities in order to identify individual and collective actions we can take to reduce bias, discrimination, and inequities at ZI.