EDU 330 Topic 7 Social Injustice and Cultural Identifiers Research Paper
For this assignment, you will submit the final version of your 750-1,000 word research paper on a controversial topic involving a cultural identifier and the implications for K-12 public education. Be sure to consider the feedback provided by your peers and your faculty member on the rough draft you submitted in Topic 4.
Using a minimum of three scholarly journal articles from the last 3 years complete your paper so that it addresses the following:
- Describes the cultural identifiers discussed in the articles.
- Summarizes the historical background of the cultural identifiers and associated controversial topic in K-12 education.
- Identifies 2-3 arguments presented for and 2-3 arguments against the issue.
- Discusses associated injustices arising from the issue, including how teachers and students are affected by the cultural identifiers and associated controversial topic
- Explains solutions you recommend implementing to remedy the associated injustices, and why you selected them.
- Concludes by identifying where you fall on the cultural competence continuum in relation to the issue, including your commitment to understanding others’ frames of reference (e.g., culture, gender, language, abilities, ways of knowing), in order to reduce personal biases and improve relationships with colleagues, students, and students’ families.
Prepare this assignment according to the guidelines found in the APA Style Guide, located in the Student Success Center. An abstract is not required.
This assignment uses a rubric. Review the rubric prior to beginning the assignment to become familiar with the expectations for successful completion.
You are required to submit this assignment to LopesWrite.
Sample Answer
Controversial Topic Summary
Cultural Identifiers
According to NAIS (National Association of Independent Schools) some cultural identifiers include body image, educational background, academic and social achievement and sexual orientation. This paper will discuss three articles that project cultural identifiers that are being used in the context of discrimination against students in K-12 that identify as androgynous. The three articles provides evidence that discrimination among males that dress as females occur in the K-12 system by providing a strict dress code. Therefore, understanding the information presented in the three articles can provide skills in developing solutions to the injustices experienced by students who are androgynous.
Historical Background and Associated Controversial Topic in K-12 Education
The first article, “Cross Dress Code,” provides pros and cons about using a dress code in school and how it could benefit students as well as it could affect the minority group and students who identify themselves as androgynous (Nack, 2009) The second article, “Eight Grade Shooting,” talks about a boy named Brandon McInerne, age 14, who shot Lawrance king, age 15, for wearing heels and makeup in middle school. Lastly, the article, “Fashioning Children: Gender Restrictive Dress Codes as an Entry Point for the Tans School to Prison Pipeline” further explains the rational of dress codes in K-12. A students who in appearance are boys and dress like girls or vise versa are subject to discrimination and bullying in schools.
Are these dress codes really developed to ensure that students meet norms of professionalism, or do these serve as tools for schools to enforce heteronormativity? Many parents believe that dress codes prevent their child to express itself and seek to pave the way for their children. There are clubs made by parents try to raise awareness of such issues. In the other hand, school’s goals are to promote learning free from distraction and prevent violent or abusive behavior. Some injustices that can generate from dress code will be freedom of religion. It creates limitation of dress code, which could lead a student to not feel safe or acceptance. Students cannot be prevented from expressing their religion beliefs. Most laws protect student’s to wear religious attire like wearing a turban. The law outlines and protects more the rights of freedom of religion than gender discrimination. However, the school’s interest is to keep a dress code in which students are not subject to bullying.
Associated Injustices
Can a boy wear heels to school? Generally, clothing is a way for teenagers to seek for personal identity. The main goal for schools is to promote school safety by suggesting a dress code. According to ABC News, In February 2008, Lawrence King, an eight grader from Oxnard, Cali., who occasionally wore high heeled boots and makeup was shot to death in class by another student. The investigation reveled that King had been allowed to cross-dress at his middle school. Later King’s middle school became the reason why King’s family filed a personal injury claim against the school for not enforcing dress code. Due to other events, schools have decided to enforce a color and use it as dress codes avoid student endangerment. However, these types of situation raises the questions if students are safe and comfortable and not harassed.
How are Teachers and Students Affected by the Cultural Identifiers
The dress code for students is becoming very controversial as more are becoming selfaware and choosing the identify that fits them the most. Students dealing with gender identity have become a higher bullying and discrimination target in schools. If students are prevented from expressing themselves it could led to depression which could have a domino effect in their life. (Glickman, 2016). Educating students about diversity and self identity could help in bringing awareness in paving a better tomorrow for those students. This sounds nice but we should not loose any students in this attempt. These types of situations affect teachers because they might not know how to address the issue. Teachers might want to create a safe environment where the student feels free. However, the parents might not want their child to dress the way they want to.
Solutions and/or Proposed Solutions
Some solutions will be the school’s decision that self-expression should be the limited. To avoid any fights or potential student endangerment, schools should continue to enforce uniforms. Pants are typically gender neutral. As an educator, student safety should be our priorities. Parents should have ultimate control over how their child presents themselves to the world and how they choose to support them. Teachers should focus on educating and providing students a safe environment for the student to fully express itself rather to focus on the outside looks.
