systems and the Christian response

design and systems thinking

  • design produces one of two products—
    • visible product: a physical, tangible result of design
    • eg. chair, computer, door
    • products of visible design go through “demanding product testing” and “stringent safety tests”
      • if poorly made, it isn’t sold or few buy it → consumers have other options
    • if poorly designed, the blame goes to the product, not the person it was intended to serve
    • invisible product: a systemic, intangible result of design
    • eg. healthcare, education, criminal justice
    • products of invisible design have limited checks in place to catch poor performance/low quality
      • thus, they have a higher likelihood of failing to meet the needs of those it is created to serve → consumers do not have other options
    • if poorly designed, the person the system was intended to serve is blamed, not the product or system itself
    • when invisible design systems malfunction or fail, they result in inequality and marginalization
      • marginalization: the treatment of a person, group, or concept as insignificant or peripheral
  • design arises from demand
    • demand: the desire or need for a product, service, or system
    • people want something, thus it is designed, created, and implemented
    • the voices of those who have demand for the design should be included in the design as they know best what they need

design and systemic failures

  • design failure: when a product does not meet the needs of the people it was created to serve
    • contrary to the purpose of design products since design products are created to serve the needs of an individual or group of people
  • failures of visible products are blamed on the products, whereas failures of invisible products are blamed on the people they’re meant to serve
  • depending on which system fails, the inequality and marginalization may violate the inherent dignity and rights of all people
    • these rights are outlined in catholic social teachings
    • life and dignity of the human person
    • call to family, community, and participation
    • rights and responsibilities
    • option for the poor and vulnerable
    • dignity of work and the rights of workers
    • solidarity
    • care for God’s creation
  • systems are important; they are designed to help people, to standardize a process which ideally makes it more effective
    • they work well for some, okay for others and not well for others
    • must be seen as something that can be changed in a way that will serve the necessary people
    • as disciples, we are called to help fill the gap: to care for the needs of those that the system is supposed to care for, but doesn’t

systems of oppression

  • systemic oppression: when the purposeful structure of a system produces an output accessible only to the few, and not to all those it should serve
    • when the voices of those who should be served go unheard and ignored
    • often, discriminatory laws surround the structure of the system, making it difficult to change unless dismantled and redesigned

disciples’ response to the weakness of systems

  • disciple: a follower of Christ, working to protect the physical, immediate needs and the spiritual, eternal needs of everyone, especially the marginalized and the suffering
    • a disciple must respond to failure of a system because it is here that the inherent dignity given by God to all people is often attacked or ignored
    • pillars of discipleship
    • prayer: discernment of the ultimate good, not just the apparent good
      • allows one to surrender their will to God’s will and God is able to act
    • detachment: reduction or abstention from something in order to help others
      • letting go of our own, earthly desires to see more clearly the ultimate good
    • service: physical response to eliminate the needs or desires of those around us by providing them
      • the action of love and care for another
    • other methods of response through discipleship
    • mercy: compassion or forgiveness; responding to the immediate needs of an individual or group
      • eg. corporal and spiritual works of mercy
    • justice: gj
    • connecting mercy and justice with prayer, detachment and service helps disciples work to protect the inherent dignity of all
    • to do this, they must build a culture of encounter

barriers to response

  • there is a longstanding history of westerners entering developing countries and “helping” rather than stopping and asking/listening to what the countries actually need
  • this parallels the trend of volunteers and “social justice warriors” entering into others’ situations and assuming that they know best
    • they tend to think they are good people doing good things
    • they attempt tasks that they ASSUME locals want done and just cannot do themselves, otherwise it would already be done
    • this ASSUMES a lesser intelligence and ability and creates a significant power dynamic and has an “othering” effect
  • othering effect: the view or treatment of a person or group of people as intrinsically different from and alien to oneself
    • creates an Us vs. Them dynamic
    • dangerous because it removes from view all similarities two groups may have and sets them as opposition; as complete and total opposites and opponents.
    • inhibits understanding as well as striping the “other” group from individuality; they become all the same and it is thought that what is true about one, is true about all. disregards personal characteristics and stories
  • power dynamics and relationships
    • affect how well you can know and understand someone or something
    • to truly understand a group, one must learn from within it: suspending judgment and simply observing and asking questions, building relationship and becoming part of it
    • history is filled with examples of a group in power or a “dominant” group thinking they understand an ”inferior” group, but do so on their own judgments and bias and thus incorrectly
  • becoming aware of one’s own bias
    • implicit bias: the attitudes, stereotypes, experiences, cultural upbringings, life events, etc. that affect our understanding, actions, and decisions in an unconscious manner
  • principles of aiding others
    • respect
    • don’t be paternalistic or patronizing
    • don’t do everything for them, assuming they can’t do it for themselves, nor think them incapable
    • shut up and listen
    • exist in a manner of responding to people (instead of going off and doing your own thing
    • become a servant to the passion of local people