White privilege and art therapy in the UK: are we doing the work?

ABSTRACT

White supremacy is a societal system that those with White privilege are born in to. Consideration of identity markers such as race, gender and class continue to be neglected in art therapy training and practice in the UK. Examining the social and political dimensions of individual experience can give greater context to trauma and oppression, as well as power as a socially constructed and relational entity, when we consider our clients, our colleagues and ourselves. This article engages in an epistemological discussion of practice exploring the ways in which the art therapy profession in the UK could greater engage in The Work and greater intersectional thinking, in honour of ethical practice and in support of social change. The Work is defined by People of Colour who are activists, educators and practitioners and describes the efforts of real allyship that white people show People of Colour. Theories of behaviour that perpetuate and bolster white supremacy, such as white privilege and white fragility are explored along with decolonising the visual realm and conceptions of therapist-activist work.

Plain-language summary

This article explores the concepts of White privilege and White supremacy currently and historically in the UK and how this may impact art therapy trainings, theories and practice with clients. This includes the way in which art therapists work with the art medium. Suggestions of how White art therapists may engage in The Work are explored. The Work is defined by activists, educators and practitioners who are People of Colour and describes the way in which White people may address their own part in a White supremacist society and how they can truly support People of Colour experiencing racism. Theories of behaviour such as White fragility are explored along with how they may manifest in the work of art therapists in training and practice. Intersectional thinking, which examines identities such as race, class, gender and sexuality, as they are simultaneously experienced, is considered as a self-reflexive tool that may support White art therapists in exploring their White privilege. Other key concepts of intersectional thinking are examined in relation to art therapy practice, such as acknowledging the social and political, social justice and therapist-activist work, constructs of power, and giving voice to marginalised communities.

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© 2022 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group

KEYWORDS:

• White privilege
• intersectionality
• race
• power
• decolonisation
• racism

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Megan Charles, Charlotte Elliston, Judy Ryde, Gavin Round, Neil Springham, Shan Rixon, Elina Lund and Jerome Beresford for their support in writing this article.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Corrina Eastwood

Corrina Eastwood is an art psychotherapist, supervisor, artist, writer, lecturer and activist. She is currently working on a co edited book titled Intersectionality and the Arts Psychotherapies due to be published in 2021.