ERIC Number: EJ850265
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2009-Sep
Pages: 8
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1871-1502
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Turning the Focus from "Other" to Science Education: Exploring the Invisibility of Whiteness
Sammel, Ali
Cultural Studies of Science Education, v4 n3 p649-656 Sep 2009
This paper provides another way to gaze upon Brad's story as presented by van Eijck and Roth (2010). It raises questions about infrastructural racism in contemporary science education by exploring its association with Whiteness and White privilege. To explore the racial positioning inherent in Western science education specific attention is given to the positions of power that accompany Western ways of knowing the world (i.e., science education) in comparison to Other ways of knowing the world (i.e., First Nations Ways of Knowing). The paper suggests the power relationships inherent within this dualism are asymmetrical due to the implications of Whiteness within colonial societies. Even though power relations were not discussed in Brad's story, the paper suggests the implications were visible. The paper concludes by advocating for a re-imagining in science education where the traditional ontological and epistemological foundations are deconstructed and spaces are created for enacting practical ways of resisting oppression.
Descriptors: Cultural Context, Racial Discrimination, Power Structure, Social Justice, Epistemology, Social Systems, Social Environment, Educational Environment, Science Education, Whites, Racial Relations, Racial Factors, Politics of Education
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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