LANDSCAPE

Humans have always needed safety and security. In fact, safety is a basic human need.* Today, the term 'safe space' has come to mean more than just physical safety in a geographic location. Though that certainly still rings true, safety is also about emotional well-being, levels of comfort and welcomeness, respect, and dignity. Space can refer to physical rooms, conversations, organizations, interpersonal relationships, and more.’

*One might say that Maslow's hierarchy of needs laid the groundwork for ‘safe spaces’, stating safety as one of the most important basic need, only to be out-ranked by the human necessity to breathe, eat, and sleep.

The Macmillan Dictionary defines ‘safe space’ as:

Safe space; NOUN /ˈseɪf ˌspeɪs/

1. a place where everyone can feel comfortable about expressing their identity without fear of discrimination or attack

2. a situation or place where a person can feel comfortable and secure

For a better understanding of the scope and history of the phrase, we have compiled a brief overview of opinions, definitions, and translations of the term. Currently, the definitions and application of the term range far and wide. Enjoy the roller coaster.

LATE 1940’s: A modern pioneer of social, organizational, and applied psychology, psychologist Kurt Lewin, developed early leadership and sensitivity training. One of the ideas behind sensitivity training, was that honesty and change would only occur if people could be frank and challenge others in an environment of psychological safety.

1960’s: The concept of sensitivity groups grew, and was used by psychologists. Humanistic therapist, Carl Rogers, developed the idea into ‘encounter groups,’ aimed at self-actualisation and social change and based on the same ‘safe space’ environment. In the history of safe space, these pioneers set the foundation.

60’s AND 70’s: In the women’s movement, safe space “implie[d] a certain license to speak and act freely, form collective strength, and generate strategies for resistance...a means rather than an end and not only a physical space but also a space created by the coming together of women searching for community." Moira Kennedy

2005: “Safe space can be defined as a place where any young person can relax and be fully self-expressed, without fear of being made to feel uncomfortable, unwanted, or unsafe on account of biological sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression, race/ethnicity, cultural background, age, or physical and mental ability. It is a place where the rules guard each person’s self-respect and strongly encourage everyone to respect others.” Advocates for Youth

SEPTEMBER 2006: “A term primarily used on college campuses to describe an area (usually a dorm room) that is safe for a person of any sexual orientation. Safe Space signs are small rectangle pieces of cloth that are rainbow colored and have a blue square in the upper left corner with a yellow equal sign in it. The rainbow is used as a symbol of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered rights.” Urban Dictionary

SEPTEMBER 2015: “I’ve got to tell you, I don’t agree...that you when you become students at colleges, you have to be coddled and protected from different points of view. Anybody who comes to speak to you and you disagree with, you should have an argument with them, but you shouldn’t silence them by saying you can’t come because I’m too sensitive to hear what you have to say.” President Barak Obama

OCTOBER 2015: “A university is not a ‘safe space.’ If you need a safe space, leave, go home, hug your teddy & suck your thumb until ready for university.” Tweeted by Richard Dawkings

NOVEMBER 2015: “A place where cowards with cultural authoritarian and pro-censorship leanings go to in order to evade criticism and calling out of whatever absurd ideas they may express, as well as ideas that are even slightly opposed to the safe space dweller's ideas.” Urban Dictionary

NOVEMBER 2015: “What we’re witnessing at Yale are the abysmal consequences of a decades-long inculcation of identity politics...in the form of a “safe space” where...fatuous notions go unchallenged. [This] is behavior befitting a toddler, not an undergraduate at one of America’s premier institutions of higher learning.” James Kirchick

2016: “Safe Space programs increase the visible presence of student and adult allies who can help to shape a school culture that is accepting of all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, or any other difference.” Sierra College

April 2016: “I totally do believe in safe space and the principles behind it. It’s supposed to enhance free speech and not shut it down, and give everyone a chance to feel like they can contribute...Safe space is essential for us to have a debate where everyone can speak, but it can’t become a tool for the hard left to use when they disagree with people.” Imogen Wilson