Safe Space

The term “safe space” often gets thrown around, and mocked, in debates about social justice and free speech on college campuses. To some, safe spaces symbolize the “coddling” of today’s youth, the oversensitivity of modern progressivism, and even a serious threat to free speech.

But then the question arises what is a “safe space”?

Safe spaces, despite the recent hubbub, are nothing new. As early as the 1940s, queer bars and women’s rights organizations acted as meeting places for like-minded people to share experiences and find solace. Yet the recent proliferation of safe spaces into public campuses means that these safe spaces, unlike queer bars and feminist organizations, which maintained a relatively low profile, are often cast directly into the public eye. A safe space is not necessarily a physical location but an environment which is free from any kind of restrictions, judgements, bias, conflict or criticism. It doesn’t coddle us or blind us from the realities of our world but instead it offers us a brief opportunity to be vulnerable and let down our guard without fear of judgment or harm.

Safe space is a complex idea that, properly construed, can help students engage more openly in the pursuit of knowledge across differences. Moreover, while the lessons of safe spaces begin with college campuses, they do not end there. The college campus is in some ways a microcosm of our broader society. Reflecting on the give-and-take of campus debate and its limits may give us some insights into how to pursue civic discourse in the rest of society.

In a place like a college which is a coarse immersion of people from various parts of the society, having a space that feels safe can empower both rural and urban youth by providing them with the opportunity to gather and participate in diverse activities or to talk and engage in meaningful dialogues.

Safe spaces can provide a break from judgment, unsolicited opinions, and having to explain yourself. It also allows people to feel supported and respected. This is highly important for the members of the LGBTQIA community, and other marginalized groups.

Some critics suggest that safe spaces are a direct threat to free speech, foster groupthink, and limit the flow of ideas. Others accuse college students of being coddled “snowflakes” who seek protection from ideas that make them uncomfortable.

We’re not trying to limit the flow of ideas on campus or to disengage from the community instead we’re seeking a tool to help us take care of our mental health so we can continue actively engaging in our classes, extracurriculars, and other areas of our lives. For an insecure teenager, having a judgment-free space where one was surrounded by mature, supportive peers is invaluable.

Most importantly, safe spaces allow us to practice self-care so we can continue making thoughtful, productive contributions to difficult discussions, inside and outside the classroom.

Safe spaces can act as potential launching pads for young people to take their first step into activism or to garner the confidence they need to pursue self-expression through the arts. By having the private time and place to collect their thoughts and emotions with peers, teachers, parents, and after-school facilitators, students feel more emboldened to get involved in what’s going on around them, whether it’s joining social justice movements like Black Lives Matter or participating in their own education in stronger ways. The safe places strengthen their resolve to enact change in their own lives and communities, and they can lead to a conscious awakening to take personal action.