A Safe Space is a place:
“Where people can feel not only supported but also affirmed. It is a place where all people are not only accepted but also valued.”
-Santa Ana College
The idea of “safe space” was borne out of Los Angeles' LGBT community in the 1930’s. The LGBT community considered a safe space as one where LGBT people could feel comfortable knowing that they are welcomed and affirmed.
Some of the literature also identifies the first consistent use of the word “safe space” in the 60s and the 70s with the women’s movement. Moira Kenney described, “Safe space (as) a space created by the coming together of women searching for community.”
The term has extended to other communities as an inclusive space that supports all people to feel comfortable, welcome, and safe regardless of assigned sex, race/ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity or expression, cultural background, religious affiliation, age, physical or mental situation.
It is a space guided by respect for the dignity of others and their ideas, thoughts, beliefs, and realities.
A Brave Space is a term that describes an academic environment where varying opinions are accepted, where student acknowledge and discuss situations that impact the emotional well-being of another, where there is always an option to step up in and out of challenging conversations, where students respect each other and do not intentionally hurt each other (Brian Arao and Kristi Clemens (2013) “From Safe Spaces to Brave Spaces” in The Art of Effective Facilitation: Reflections From Social Justice Educators).
While it is our aspirational goal that our entire community is a Space Space/Brave Space as a defined above, the Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library identifies itself as a space that strives to embody the values that welcome all. If you experience anything in the Health Sciences Library that doesn’t align with the
We hope that you enjoy your experience here.
Enthusiastically supported by the Office of Health Equity and Inclusion.