Ethnic Discrimination against Mapuche Students in Urban High Schools in the Araucanía Region, Chile

Dados Bibliográficos

ID23239663
AutoresSandra Becerra (Universidad Católica de Temuco), Mar A E Merino (0000-0002-0258-9563, Universidad Católica de Temuco), María Eugenia Merino, D Mellor (0000-0001-5007-5906, Deakin University)
Ano2015
Volume8
Fascículo10
Data de publicação2015-09-28
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Education Studies (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1913-9020 • E-ISSN: 1913-9039
EditoraCanadian Center of Science and Education (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.5539/ies.v8n10p96
OpenAlexW1812974888
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas6
Referências citadas23

Ethnic or racial discrimination towards children and adolescents at schools is of concern in many contexts around the world because it is associated with diverse psychosocial, behavioural, emotional, and identity problems. The purpose of this study was to identify the types of ethnic discrimination experienced by indigenous Mapuche adolescents in schools in Chile. The study was qualitative in nature and two techniques were used: semi-structured interviews and focus groups involving an ‘indicative’ sample of 80 participants (30 students and 50 teachers) from three urban high schools in the Araucanía Region, Chile. Three modes of ethnic discrimination were identified: verbal, behavioural-attitudinal and institutional. A ‘non virtuous cycle’ of discrimination is suggested. It originates with teachers’ prejudiced attitudes that lead to attributions of deficit among Mapuche adolescents. When these attributions are activated, they lead to a diminished sense of competence, avoidance and segregation among Mapuche students who then withdraw from active participation in learning, which perpetuates and confirms teachers’ prejudice and attributions. Recommendations for the educational system, schools, and teachers are discussed to diminish the manifestation of ethnic discrimination at schools and its negative consequences for indigenous adolescent population.

Attribution · Competence (human resources) · Developmental psychology · Ethnic discrimination · Ethnic group · Indigenous · Population · Psychosocial · Qualitative research · Sociology · Demography · Early Childhood Education and Development · Migration, Education, Indigenous Social Dynamics · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology