NERA Network 14 – Multicultural Educational Research
Minutes from preconference 6 March 2013
The preconference was advertised on the network website, http://www.nfpf.net/?page_id=627 , in the conference program for NERA 2013 and the agenda was also sent to the network members.
Both presentations introduced and discussed issues of diversity and how to approach diversity within and across categories. The presenters opened a discussion on how we as researchers can approach this complex reality and multiplicity, and which methodological approaches are possible in addressing diversity. Superdiversity was introduced as a summary term and an analytical category. Intersectionality was introduced as an intercategorial term, implying diversity within and across categories and the intersection of multiple inequalities. It was noted that we need categories for research but that we need to be aware of the temporality of categories. Also, that we need a framework which we can understand and which is helpful.
Various authors and writings which can be useful for a continuing discussion were introduced in the presentations, and additionally, these books on intersectionality were mentioned:
Lutz, Vivar & Supik (2011), Framing intersectionality and
Bhopal & Preston (2012), Intersectionality and Race in Education.
It was also suggested that writing a conceptual paper based on the topics of the preconference would be useful.
In conclusion, the participants decided to continue this discussion in the next NERA preconference of network 14 (planned in Lillehammer in 2014) and look for examples of research or empirical studies where the concepts of intersectionality and superdiversity have been applied in order to understand how intersectionality works in empirical research. Also, it was suggested that inviting Gert Biesta as a presenter on the topic of complexity theory at the next preconference would be useful for continuing this discussion.
The slides from the presentations will be available on the website.
Participants in the preconference were:
Christian Horst, DPU, University of Aarhus
Christina Rodell Olgaç, Södertörn University
Fred Dervin, University of Helsinki
Frédérique Brossard Børhaug, NLA Høgskolen Bergen
Halla Jónsdóttir, University of Iceland
Hanna Ragnarsdóttir, University of Iceland
Hille Janhonen-Abruquah, University of Helsinki
Johannes Lunneblad, University of Gothenburg
Kerstin von Brömssen, University of Gothenburg
Kirsten Lauritsen, University College of Nord-Trondelag (HiNT)
Lars Anders Kulbrandstad, Hedmark University College
Robert Berman, University of Iceland
Thor Ola Engen, Hedmark University College