STATEMENT OF INCLUSION - STANDING IN SOLIDARITY

FREEDOM JUSTICE EQUALITY

I am committed to contributing, fostering, and pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion. I stand in solidarity with underrepresented and oppressed racial, sexual, religious, ethnic, and other marginalised communities.

I stand in firm solidarity with Black communities and everyone fighting the systemic, institutionalised and ingrained racism, injustice, violence and discrimination of our society and the full weight of our oppressive history.

I believe that Black Lives Matter.

My Artisan Aromatic and Anatomy practice supports full diversity and inclusion of Black, LGBTQ+, all ethnicities, minority and all underrepresented groups and I seek to create an inclusive and supportive Artisan Aromatic and Anatomy community. I believe that all of our words, and how we act in the world matters. I believe that, especially in the holistic, green, skin, spa and wellness industries we must stand very clearly and openly for the inclusion, diversity, respect and representation of all; that it is all of our responsibility and that it is a responsibility that I take extremely seriously.

PLEDGE

I pledge to visibly include representations of all to allow everyone to feel as completely and fully welcome and included as I have always believed to be true. This is not a trend. It is a longstanding, continuing and lifelong commitment which I understand is now important to plainly state. I acknowledge and embrace my responsibility to continue to educate myself to do better, to act better and be a better ally through my voice and action.

ACTIVELY LISTENING. ACTIVELY EDUCATING.

My platform in the skin care industry is a small one but one I take is seriously. I actively want to show my own personal values and my commitment to anti-racism, anti-homophobia, anti-trans and the full inclusion of all marginalised and underrepresented people in a tangible, visible, vocal and active way. I am committed to self education. If you see ways in which I can do this better please let me know. I want to do better; to continue to chip away at the socialised doctrine of privilege to which we are all unavoidably a part.

Both my undergraduate and postgraduate degrees explored the colonial roots of imperialism and the historical philosophies upon which the current socio-cultural hegemonies are built. I had the very great privilege of attending the incredible SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies, London University) where I studied Social Anthropology and contemporary philosophy, which, by its very nature, has to unpick the colonial past upon which it, itself, is built. I went on to focus my Masters degree on Women’s Studies at East London University. I am grateful to have been taught by some of the most renowned, diverse and radical anthropologists, contemporary philosophers, feminists, teachers, poets and pioneers. It is my white, western privilege to be educated at all, safely, and to this level.

It is into this tapestry, and with a very real thirst for questioning and knowledge, that I bring my anatomy, aromatic, facial and bodywork practice to the table.

“One of our strongest gifts [we] give this hate-filled society is proof that neither racism nor classism nor homophobia can silence a loving voice, nor stop a loving touch.” Joan Nestle*

Let us raise our loving voice in solidarity with each other.

As facialists let us use our compassionate touch to the very best of our ability.

With love,

Fiona xx

* Nestle, Joan ‘When the Lions Write History’ Joan Nestle A Restricted Country: Documents of Desire and Resistance’ 1987