Multicultural Efforts and Affirmative Action in Brazil: Policies Influencing Education in the Americas

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the intercultural movements toward social justice in education in the Americas, most particularly, North America, and how U.S. multicultural movements and policies influence countries like Brazil. First we analyzed the movement toward multicultural practices to understand how those are developed both in the U.S., and in Brazil. We examined multicultural education as a means to generate equal academic access for students from diverse gender, race, culture, and social class. Following, we expanded our understanding of multicultural practices by examining the Affirmative Action as a social justice movement. We asked whether policies can be interculturally adopted, and adapted, to create social justice in educational systems across different countries in the Americas. This study explores the intercultural movements toward social justice in education in the Americas, most particularly, North America, and how U.S. multicultural movements and policies influence countries like Brazil. First we analyzed the movement toward multicultural practices to understand how those are developed both in the U.S., and in Brazil. We examined multicultural education as a means to generate equal academic access for students from diverse gender, race, culture, and social class. Following, we expanded our understanding of multicultural practices by examining the Affirmative Action as a social justice movement. We asked whether policies can be interculturally adopted, and adapted, to create social justice in educational systems across different countries in the Americas.