School, cultural diversity, multiculturalism, and contact

Pagani, Camilla; Robustelli, Francesco; Martinelli, Cristina

doi:10.1080/14675986.2011.617427

Cited by 20 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Participants were asked to indicate only their gender and were not requested to specify whether they were immigrant or Italian. Like in our previous studies [4,22], some participants explicitly stated they were Italian, immigrant or with parents of mixed nationalities. Sometimes, when no explicit mention was made of their cultural background, it was possible to infer from the text whether a pupil was Italian or immigrant.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the analysis of the essays collected on the occasion of this study, as well as in those collected in our previous studies [4,22], it has been observed that, in describing their views and emotions regarding multiculturalism, many youths use a dichotomous and Manichaean language (e.g., "good/bad" and "honest/dishonest", referring to immigrants), interpreting multiculturalism in a dichotomous way (pros and cons of immigration, being against or in favor of multiculturalism). At times, a third category, namely "bad and dishonest Italians" as explicitly or implicitly opposed to "good and honest Italians", is introduced by participants in order to present their opinions in a desirable manner and try to manifest a form of acceptance of immigrants.…”

Section: As I Came From a Little Town I Was Scared And Intrigued By mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As in previous studies of our group [4,22,24], where some preliminary analyses from different perspectives were conducted on youths' attitudes towards multiculturalism, the analysis was especially focused on the implicit meaning of the texts. This includes beliefs and emotions that participants do not express directly but that can be inferred through a thorough examination not only of the content but also, and above all, of the structure and the form of the text.…”

Section: Are Interested In What You Think About This Topic Tell Us Amentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Youths, Cultural Diversity, and Complex Thinking^

Cangià

Pagani

2014

TOPSYJ

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Most people support the idea that we live in a complex society and that complex evaluations and strategies are needed in order to effectively address most societal problems. However, little attention is generally paid to the degree of presence of complex thinking in youths' attitudes towards the most significant issues that characterize contemporary human societies. This paper presents a preliminary analysis of the relationship between youths' "complex thinking" and their evaluations of and attitudes towards one of these issues, namely cultural diversity. It examines some excerpts from anonymous open-ended essays on "multiculturalism" in Italy, recently written by pupils aged 14-18. The paper indicates that youths' low levels of complex thinking are often expressed through a prejudiced and basically negative representation of a multicultural society, and through a scarce awareness and a simplistic description of their personal and others' emotions related to this representation. It also indicates that high levels of complex thinking usually characterize youths' positive relationship with and thoughtful understanding of cultural diversity. The paper underlines the importance of fostering the development of high levels of complex thinking at the educational level, so as to strengthen youths' capability of building a more autonomous and complex outlook on their relationship with cultural diversity, and with diversity in general.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: As I Came From a Little Town I Was Scared And Intrigued By mentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Are Interested In What You Think About This Topic Tell Us Amentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Youths, Cultural Diversity, and Complex Thinking^

Cangià

Pagani

2014

TOPSYJ

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The outcome of this contact is intertwined with power and privilege, and inflected by feelings of threat, competition, vulnerability, resentment and guilt (e.g. Anthias, 2001;Drew, 2011;Gilligan, Shannon, & Curry, 2007;Karner & Parker, 2011;Pagani, Robustelli, & Martinelli, 2011;Schuermans, 2017;Smollan, 2006).These responses are no less evident in young people encountering difference, managing positions of inequality and experiencing conditions of change (Nayak, 2010;Simonsen & Koefoed, 2015;Visser, Bolt, & van Kempen, 2015).…”

Section: Reflexivity and The Breaches Of Encountermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The continuity of cultural knowledge enables the prediction of outcomes, the ability to attach meaning and respond appropriately to experiences and events, as well as to be able to predict how others will respond in order to avoid collisions in crowded, complex cities (Herbert, 2008;Pagani et al, 2011;Phillips & Smith, 2006). The desire for this stability does not preclude the incorporation of new ideas, but this is done cumulatively, within limits, as new experiences are assimilated within familiar contexts.…”

Section: Accepting Change Re-working Spacementioning

confidence: 99%

Re-working encounter: the role of reflexivity in managing difference

Butcher

2017

Social & Cultural Geography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Marked by high levels of diversity and gentrification, changing demographics in east London highlight the need for new analytical tools to examine how formerly familiar spaces must now be renegotiated. Conceptual frameworks of habit and affect have informed the contemporary analysis of how encounters with difference unfold within transforming cityscapes. However, findings from a participatory research project with young people suggest a more reflexive management of classed and racialised encounters is occurring as accumulated cultural knowledge is tested and revised from which new practices emerge. Attention to processes of reflexivity highlighted the capacity of young people to consciously weigh options and choose a range of strategies under conditions of 'breach' , including: degrees of acceptance of change; re-working space use through avoidance and adapting everyday practices such as dress and food; as well as developing attributes that enable engagement such as empathy. Feelings of judgement appeared as a dominant driver of reflexivity, while disposition and place contextualised and modified responses. Yet, while the possibilities for subjective re-evaluation and adaptation are apparent, the study raises questions of inequality in the expectation that young people are being asked to adapt to new cultural norms not of their making.Retravailler la rencontre: rôle de la réflexivité dans la gestion de la différence RÉSUMÉ Marquée par une proportion élevée de diversité et de gentrification, l'évolution de la démographie à l'est de Londres fait ressortir le besoin de nouveaux outils analytiques pour examiner comment les espaces qui étaient familiers dans le passé doivent maintenant être renégociés. Les cadres conceptuels de l'habitude et de l'affect ont servi à l'analyse contemporaine de la manière dont les rencontres avec la différence se déroulent au sein de paysages urbains en transformation. Pourtant, les résultats d'un projet de recherche participative avec des jeunes suggèrent qu'il existe actuellement une gestion plus réflexive des rencontres de classes et de races au fur et à mesure qu'une connaissance culturelle accumulée est testée et révisée et à partir de laquelle émergent de nouvelles pratiques. L'attention accordée au processus de réflexivité a mis en évidence la capacité des jeunes à Reevaluando al encuentro: el papel de la reflexividad en el manejo de la diferencia RESUMENMarcada por los altos niveles de diversidad y aburguesamiento, la demografía cambiante en el este de Londres destaca la necesidad de nuevas herramientas analíticas para examinar cómo antiguamente los espacios familiares deben ahora ser renegociados. Marcos conceptuales de hábito y afecto han informado al análisis contemporáneo de cómo los encuentros con la diferencia se desarrollan dentro de paisajes urbanos en transformación. Sin embargo, los resultados de un proyecto de investigación participativa con jóvenes sugieren que una gestión más reflexiva de los encuentros clasificados y de carácter racial está ocurriendo a med...

show abstract

Experiencing Diversity: Complexity, Education, and Peace Construction

Pagani

2019

Peace Psychology Book Series

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The relationship with diversity is one of the basic aspects of human experience. In the present contribution, a broad definition of diversity is proposed, which includes, but is not limited to, cultural diversity. The analysis of the experience of diversity is especially focused on children’s attitudes and behavior. The role of education is also highlighted. Though education is generally considered by the author in its broad sense, namely, as the sum of all the elements of reality that in one way or another affect human development, a special emphasis here is given to school. The main assumption of this chapter is that complexity, diversity, education, and peace construction are intimately interrelated. Diversity is one of the essential components of complexity, and considerations regarding the reality of complexity should be the prerequisite of any educational program and of any effort toward peace construction. These reflections partly draw on a number of studies (especially through the use of anonymous open-ended essays) we conducted in Italian secondary schools on children’s (aged 9–18) attitudes toward multiculturalism. Some suggestions are also prompted by a brief analysis of a passage from the Australian novel My Place by Sally Morgan.

show abstract

School, cultural diversity, multiculturalism, and contact

Cited by 20 publications

References 16 publications

Youths, Cultural Diversity, and Complex Thinking^

Youths, Cultural Diversity, and Complex Thinking^

Re-working encounter: the role of reflexivity in managing difference

Experiencing Diversity: Complexity, Education, and Peace Construction

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About