How do I contact you?
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:19
Is this game appropriate for children? What's the age range for the game?
This game is great for teenagers and adults ages 14 & up!
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:26
How long does it take to learn and play?
5 minutes to get started and 60-90 minutes of game play (depending on how many players in the game. Recommended for up to 6 players at a time.)
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:26
Can I get Disparity Trap in other languages?
Not yet. For the time being, there is only an English language version of the game available.
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:26
What does Systemically Dominant (SD) and Systemically Non-Dominant (SND) mean?
Systemically Dominant (SD) and Systemically Non-Dominant (SND) are terms created by Dr. Debra Jenkins. Here is an excerpt of how she defines these terms and how they are used within the context of the Disparity Trap board game:
“Systemic racism, as a system of oppression, has beneficiaries and nonbeneficiaries. I created the language systemically dominant (SD)- those a system was created to benefit and systemically non-dominant (SND) - those a system was not created to benefit for my IST of an ISM paradigm. The paradigm and language prevent misunderstandings about who holds systemic power and privilege which is at the root of inequity. The language SD and SND are used in Disparity Trap to provide language which can promote forward movement and help participants understand inequity as the intended outcome of systemic oppression.”
In the system of racial oppression within the United States, the systemically dominant group is White and the systemically non-dominant group covers a range of racial and ethnic heritages outside of White. These include, but are not limited to: Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Non-White Hispanic, Asian American, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Arab, and multi-racial people of color.
*systemically dominant and systemically non-dominant terminology are from the “IST of an ISM” paradigm by Debra (Debi) Jenkins, PhD (all rights reserved and used by permission).
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:31
Can I pledge without having to receive a reward tier?
Yes! When the Kickstarter opens, there will be a option to pledge as much as you’d like, no strings attached, to show your overall support for the campaign.
If you’d like to donate outside of the Kickstarter platform, we would be happy to assist you. You can email us at [email protected].
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:26
Can I order multiple copies?
Yes. To order more than one copy of the game box set, select the tier you would like to pledge for and then press the green button to pledge. Just before the checkout page you will be offered an opportunity to “Add-On” as many additional copies of the game as you like.
Note: additional shipping cost may apply.
We will contact you before the ship date to confirm all the details.
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:26
When should I expect the game to be shipped out?
Like most Kickstarters, the purpose is to raise enough funds in order to start manufacturing . This means that once the Kickstarter is funded, there are more stages to completing the game production process. This includes finalization of designing, prototyping, mass manufacturing, and then distribution of game sets.
We hope to advance through these stages as efficiently as possible, and begin delivering in Fall 2022.
Last updated: July 15, 2022 23:27
Do you offer International shipping?
Currently, we do not offer international shipping.
If we did the shipping costs we would have to charge you would be so high!
We recommend either using the address of a US contact or a mail forwarding service like Shipito.com to get your reward delivered to you from the US.
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:26
Can I change/update/delete/add to my order?
Yes. After the campaign has finished, when we have completed production and are scheduling shipments, we’ll send out a survey confirm which address you wish to have us deliver your game. At that point, you will also be able to modify (add/remove) items from your order before we mail anything out!
Last updated: April 15, 2021 17:33
What are the size of the cards?
Our high-quality playing cards are 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches (66mm x 88mm).
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:26
What is the Money Back Guarantee?
The Money Back Guarantee is that if you do not want to keep the game after the first 30 days from receiving it, you can return it for a refund of the pledge price (you must cover shipping costs of the return). This is only for Kickstarter pledges. Pre-order, or post Kickstarter, backers are not eligible.
Last updated: June 20, 2021 15:39
Which reward tier should I get if I want to donate the game to a friend, teacher, or school?
1) Any tier can be delivered to you directly and then you can provide that donation to whomever you like personally on your end.
2) If you wish for us to ship the donation directly to someone you know, then when you make the pledge enter their name and address as the destination for the shipping.
3) If you don’t have someone in mind who you would like to donate to, that’s okay too! Select the last tier, “Educator Bundle” and we will locate a public school/teacher in the Los Angeles area who could use this game for their classes. We will then store it and donate it on your behalf as some point over the next school year.
If you still have questions about donating a reward, please feel free to email us at [email protected].
Last updated: April 14, 2021 14:41
How will educators be selected for the donated bundle? Is there a way for educators to sign up?
There is a Google form available that you are able to fill out to nominate yourself or someone that you know. We will then reach out to as many nominated educators/schools/organizations as we have donations.
The only criteria to qualify is that you be with a public school/community-based organization that doesn’t charge for it’s services. If your school/organization charges families to participate we will ask that you make a pledge for the Educators Bundle through the Kickstarter page at www.DisparityTrap.com.
Here is the nomination form: go.disparitytrap.com/donationform
Last updated: April 14, 2021 17:55
Would this game be good for my family/friends who don't understand racism? Or don't believe racism exists?
We think this would be great for them!
Those who tend to refute messages about systemic racism tend to have a harder time refuting the statistics underneath those messages.
This is why Disparity Trap was created, to be a neutral playing field for these kind of discussions by having the focus be on the facts rather than on the individuals across the table.
Last updated: April 15, 2021 17:29
Why does this game assume to know anything about me, my life or what I have been through?
This game actually does the opposite.
Disparity Trap was created to be a more neutral playing field for these kind of discussions by having the focus be on the facts and statistics rather than on the individuals across the table.
No assumptions made. Only statistics.
Last updated: April 15, 2021 17:26
Everyone already knows racism exists. And if they don't know by now, aren't they just ignorant?
With all the access to technology in America, it’s surprising just how misinformed people are today.
It’s as if there is so much information out there that many don’t know where to begin, or who to trust.
This is one of the reasons why Disparity Trap was created.
To curate some of the important aspects of systemic racism and spotlight their impact on the daily lives of Americans of color.
The goal is for this game to relieve the exhaustive work people of color have been doing to educate society on racism, and help spread that effort to others through this game.
Last updated: April 15, 2021 17:53
Why do we need to continue to separate each other by race? Why can't we all just be one HUMAN race?
We agree that separating humans by the level of melanin in their skin is a ridiculous concept that should have never existed in the first place but unfortunately it does.
And the English/European settlers (as well as the US founding fathers) all played a vital role in instilling that division within our country.
Now, we have to address the horrible ramifications that division has caused, and ignoring the differences of race, or ignoring that racism exists, is not the way to address these divides.
Maybe one day we will be able to view everyone as one human race, but first we must repair all the damage that race, as a construct, has caused before we can move forward as a ununified people.
Our hope, is that this game is one of the countless ways we can start that journey together.
Last updated: April 16, 2021 16:30
Isn't there another game just like this already?
There are actually many board games that discuss inequity and social justice out there and all of them should be welcomed to the table. We all can agree these conversations aren’t happening nearly enough.
Many of these games have similarities but there are unique differences within Disparity Trap that separates it from other board games.
For instance, Disparity Trap uses the terms “Systemically Dominant (SD)” and “Systemically Non-Dominant (SND)” to delineate those identities players can play within the game*. By using these terms, we are able to pull the focus away from a singular racial group and onto the ‘system’ that was established to create the inequity in this country.
Another distinguishable difference between Disparity Trap and other games is that it’s centered around statistics, and correlating those statistics to the dice roll in the game. This allows the players to in the shoes of an identity different form their own
This key gaming mechanism allows for a more neutral playing field for these hard conversations by putting the focus be on the facts and statistics rather than on the individuals across the table.
We found discussion centered around facts lead to more productive outcomes in the end.
*systemically dominant and systemically non-dominant terminology are from the “IST of an ISM” paradigm by Debra (Debi) Jenkins, PhD (all rights reserved and used by permission).
Last updated: April 16, 2021 16:47
Will your game cover other forms of oppression other than racism?
The short answer is YES!
We created our game to be centered around Systemically Dominant (SD) and Systemically Non-Dominant (SND) groups*. Which has not only refocused the conversation towards systemic oppression as a entity established to create inequity, but also has allowed us to make space for many more forms of systemic oppression that co-exist within society.
As you may know, some of these are Heterosexism, Sexism, Genderism, Ableism, Lookism, Ageism, and many others.
Since each of these systems of oppression have systemically dominant and systemically non-dominant groups, they are all able to be seamlessly integrated into the Disparity Trap board game.
By using this game framework, we are able to create expansion decks specifically for other systems of oppression and provided game owners the opportunity to make their game nights as intersectional as they please.
For example, a table of players can have cards from the racism deck, sexism deck, and ableism deck all within one game and these players could end up with a wide range of combinations. One player could be SD (racism), SND (sexism) and SD (ableism), while another player could very well be SND (racism), SD (sexism) and SND (ableism). And everyone at the table would get so see how the disparities within each system intersect between the players over time and the complexities that exist within the lives of those very real, very present identities.
We haven’t yet set rollout dates for these new decks but I hope this helps frame our expansion goals in the meantime!
*systemically dominant and systemically non-dominant terminology are from the “IST of an ISM” paradigm by Debra (Debi) Jenkins, PhD (all rights reserved and used by permission)
Last updated: April 17, 2021 18:23
I am a retailer. Where can I find information on how to get Disparity Trap for my store?
If you are interested in discussion retailer partnerships, please email us at DisparityTrap.com.
Last updated: April 17, 2021 18:23
Current Estimated Shipping Date: December 2021
We are working with a very experienced team at Panda Games, one of the leading table top game manufacturing companies. They have helped produce countless Kickstarter games before Kickstarter games were even a "thing." Zero risk is impossible but that being said, outside of making sure that the game is properly prepared and choosing our partners wisely (printers, logistics, etc.), it is not impossible that we face delays from uncontrollable sources *cough* world-wide pandemic *cough*. This may cause some delay in the delivery date but rest assured that, if delays were to happen, we will keep you informed about the situation.
Last Updated At: 06/13/21What is BackerKit?
BackerKit is a service that crowdfunded project creators use to keep track of hundreds to tens of thousands of backers—from shipping details, pledge levels, preferences and quantities, whether they have paid or had their card declined, special notes, and everything in between!
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