1. Acknowledge that racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, and other institutionalized forms of oppression exist.

2. Acknowledge that one mechanism of institutionalized racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, and the like is that we are all systematically misinformed about our own group and about members of other groups.  This is true for members of privileged and non-privileged groups.

3. We agree not to blame ourselves or others for the misinformation we have learned, but to accept responsibility for not repeating misinformation after we have learned otherwise.

4. Agree not to "blame victims" for the conditions of their lives.

5.  Assume that people--both the groups we study and the members of the class--always do the best they can.

6. Actively pursue information about our own groups and those of others.

7. Share information about our groups with other members of the class, and never demean, devalue, or in any way "put down" people for their experiences.

8. Agree to actively combat the myths and stereotypes about our own groups and other groups so that we can break down the walls that prohibit group cooperation and group gain.

9. Create a safe atmosphere for open discussion.  If members of the class may wish to make comments that they do not want repeated outside the classroom, they can preface their remarks with a request that the class agree not to repeat the remarks.
 

NOTES:  These guidelines were initially developed by Lynn Weber, currently the Director of Women's Studies and a Professor of Sociology at the University of South Carolina.  To read more about the guidelines, see Lynn Weber Cannon, "Fostering Positive Race, Class and Gender Dynamics in the Classroom," Women's Studies Quarterly, Vol. 18, Spring/Summer, 1990.