A1 Journal article (refereed)
‘My skin is hard’ - adult learners’ resistance to racialization and racism (2021)

Ennser-Kananen, J. (2021). ‘My skin is hard’ - adult learners’ resistance to racialization and racism. Nordic Journal of Studies in Educational Policy, 7(3), 179-189. https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2021.2008113

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ennser-Kananen, Johanna

Journal or series: Nordic Journal of Studies in Educational Policy

eISSN: 2002-0317

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 02/09/2021

Volume: 7

Issue number: 3

Pages range: 179-189

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/20020317.2021.2008113

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79140

Abstract

This article analyzes experiences of racialization in stories of adult learners with refugee experience who attend a basic education program at a Finnish community college. Throughout a two-year ethnographic study, several students shared stories and thoughts on racialization and racism with the white researcher on site (the author). This article tells and theorizes their stories to gain a deeper understanding of the workings of everyday racialization and racism in a Finnish educational context. Theoretically, the article draws on a Critical Race Theory (CRT) framework, which recognizes the inherence of racialization and racism in society and underlines the importance and legitimacy of BIPOC's ”experiential knowledge” (Solrzano, 1997, p. 7). Specifically, I use Yosso's (2005) framework of community cultural wealth to understand three interactions that address racialization and everyday racism. As I examine the data excerpts, I am guided by the questions, How do students experience racism and racialization? and Which capitals/knowledges do they display in their dealing with racism and racialization? Findings illustrate how racialization is understood and resisted in interaction, offer new research avenues for expanding Yosso's framework, and have implications for serving students from minoritized groups, particularly students of color.

Keywords: education and training; adult pedagogy; adult students; immigrants; immigrant background; refugees; racialisation; attitudes; interaction; society; discrimination; ethnic discrimination; racial discrimination; radicalisation

Free keywords: adult basic education; racialization; refugee education; community cultural wealth; resistance capitals

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Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2021

JUFO rating: 1