ERIC Number: EJ1204940
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2019
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1467-5986
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Available Date: N/A
Becoming Tolerable: Subject Constitution of Roma Mediators in Finnish Schools
Intercultural Education, v30 n1 p51-67 2019
Although Finnish politics relating to the Roma tend to be perceived internationally as fairly successful, several obstacles exist for the Roma in education and the labour market. Training of Roma mediators has been actively promoted in Finland to improve the school performance and equality of Roma pupils. This article, based on ethnographic research, focuses on exploring how the current discursive terrain around the topics of tolerance and prejudice functions in the everyday work of mediators. It is argued that the present discourses in school expose the mediators to unequal power relations of tolerance. The terms for being tolerated are set by the potential tolerating actors, the school community. The mediators aim to supply knowledge about the Roma and try to address prejudices as representatives of the Roma. The study identified three different strategies that the mediators used when encountering prejudice: making sure one does not seem too different, parody and feigning naivety. The analysis suggests that the present discursive terrain creates obstacles to addressing inequalities, discrimination and racism in educational contexts. The responsibility for tackling discrimination is placed on the shoulders of individual Roma -- not the whole school community.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Minority Groups, Power Structure, Ethnography, Racial Bias, Racial Discrimination, Equal Education, Barriers, Prosocial Behavior, Educational Environment, School Community Relationship, Cultural Awareness, Teacher Aides, Humor, Teacher Attitudes, Elementary Secondary Education, Interpersonal Relationship
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Finland
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