At Ottoman Hands, we happen to be an all-women team from around the globe. Today and everyday, we’re dedicated to Inspiring Inclusion and envisioning a gender-equal world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination. Join us as we engage with remarkable women from our community to hear their stories and experiences with inclusion firsthand.
Starting with multi-award winning content creator, author, body image advocate, public speaker, and OH muse, Stephanie Yeboah.
Stephanie is wearing the Avalon Pearl Stacking Ring, Eleanor Emerald Cocktail Ring, Neri Evil Eye Stacking Ring.
1. What does inclusion mean to you?
Inclusion to me is the act of embracing and respecting people within all facets of life, which includes race, gender, class, physical and mental health, sexual orientation and body size.
It's ensuring that the equity is spread between everyone, allowing for representation to be shared across the board so that everyone from all walks of life can be made to feel seen.
2. What has been your experience with inclusion?
In my experience, I tend to find inclusion more common in my work when the events or campaigns in question are organised by people who also exist within marginalised communities.
As we are often left out of predominantly white spaces, we take extra care to ensure that other minorities do not feel the same exclusion that is often felt in the communities.
Oftentimes, we can also be used as token members of a campaign or press opportunity, in a bid to make a brand or company look more diverse. This is something we tend to see often across most work sectors also.
3. What would you like to see brands do more when it comes to inclusion?
I would like to see brands hire more diverse people behind the scenes. Brands should be made up of communities of different kinds of people who can bring fresh and equitable contributions and ideas to a campaign. It would be great to see a mixture of disabled, LGBTQIA+, plus sized and ethnically diverse staff members in the first instance.
That way when it comes to creating a campaign, the staff are able to share their perspectives, and are able to shape what a campaign looks like, featuring people that come from their respective minority and marginalised community.
Stephanie wears the Nazar Blue Evil Eye Stacking Ring
Follow Stephanie at @StephanieYeboah
