A special lecture by Elizabeth Cole, Professor of Women's Studies, Psychology, and African and Afroamerican Studies, University of Michigan.

In this talk I consider how a psychological understanding of power and voice are missing from current national conversations on free speech. I argue this omission constitutes a "missing discourse" (Fine, 1988).  I will discuss the ways that research on social norms, gendered self-silencing, stigma, and activism complicate questions of whether to speak, who gets the floor to speak, and whose speech is considered legitimate by listeners.  Intergroup dialogue pedagogy will be proposed as a remedy that holds promise, but also entails important caveats.  I conclude with a discussion of the implications of power and voice for debates about diversity, inclusion, and free speech on college campuses.

Co-sponsored by Psychology, Women, Gender, and Sexuality, and the Intersectionality Community of Scholars.