Ethnic Studies Research Articles

Chinese in Minangkabau: A Typological Study of Chinese Ethnicity in Padang City

This study aims to analyze the typology of Chinese ethnicity based on aspects of religious life and Chinese ethnic organization in Minangkabau. In West Sumatra, the presence of ethnic Chinese can be found in the Kampung Pondok sub-district, South Padang District, Padang City. For the people of Padang City and its surroundings, this residential area is often called Kampung Cino. The most prominent evidence to date is the See Heen Kiong Temple. So far there is not much literature that discusses the typology of Chinese ethnicity in the city of Padang, so an effort is needed to complement the existing literature. This study used a case study qualitative research method, the Chinese ethnic group studied in Padang City. Data obtained by means of documentation. This study found that there are two typologies of ethnic Chinese in Minangkabau. First, based on religion, Chinese Muslims in the ethnic Chinese Muslim community in Padang city are members of the Indonesian Chinese Islamic Association (PITI). Second, based on ethnic similarities.
 
 

ETHNICITY IN RESEARCH ON OLDER MIGRANTS: HOW THE SCHOLARSHIP CONCEPTUALIZES IT AND WHERE WE NEED TO HEAD

Abstract A recently completed scoping review of peer-reviewed articles on older ethno-racialized minorities has shown that although conceptual and theoretical advancements have been made in the field of ethnicity and race, the social gerontological literature on these minorities continues to regard ethnicity in essentialist ways, conflates ethnicity with race and seldom operationalizes what these social positions mean to aging and old age. The impact of ethnicity is, in other words, almost always inferred in this research, which is why the field has been deemed to be characterized by data-richness and theory-poorness. Over the past three years, researchers working on the nexus of aging and migration have surveyed the current state of knowledge on older migrants (focusing on migrancy, rather than ethnicity and/ or race). One of these inventories is a meta-analysis of how research on older migrants conceptualizes ethnicity, and the manner in which this social position is presumed to impact on migrants’ old age- and aging-related experiences. At stake has also been the assessment of whether this literature differs from the scholarship on older ethno-racialized minorities, and the ways in which that scholarship conceptualizes ethnicity. This presentation offers insight into what this inventory has found out. In focus are the current state of affairs about how ethnicity is approached in research on older migrants, and the launching of a theoretically-informed and empirically-astute research agenda for the study of ethnicity in gerontology.

Determinants of Academic Performance Among Undergraduates During COVID-19 in a Public University: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: This study aims to examine the determinants of academic performance among students in Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences (FMHS) in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) during COVID 19 pandemic. Method: A cross sectional study was conducted between 1st March 2021 until 15th March 2021 to determine the factors associated with academic performance during COVID 19 pandemic among medical students in a public university. The questionnaires of COVID-19 Fear Scale, Student Stress Inventory-Academic Subscale, and self-reported academic performances were used. Results: The study revealed that lower stress level (OR 0.938, 95% CI 0.893-0.984), being non-medical students (OR 3.210, 95% CI 1.844, 5.587) compared with medical students, Chinese ethnicity (OR 2.932, 95% CI 1.635, 5.258) compared with non-Chinese ethnicity and a conducive study environment (OR 1.954, 95% CI 1.168, 3.268) compared with non-conducive study environment were the determinants of good academic performance among undergraduates in a public university during COVID 19 pandemic. Conclusion: These findings indicate that low stress level, non-medical course, Chinese ethnicity, and good study environment are significant factors associated with good academic performance during COVID-19 pandemic among undergraduate students in a public university. Therefore, institutions may benefit from taking these factors into account when developing interventions to enhance students’ academic outcomes.

“This is what we wanted to learn”: Anti-racist and anti-colonial education with 1st gen Korean American seniors in a time of Asian hate and racialized dread

In this paper, I explore the challenge and promise of developing an anti-racist and anti-colonial curriculum and pedagogy in a time of racialized dread. Drawing on my experience teaching a 10-week course on racial justice, delivered in the Korean language, to 1st generation Korean American seniors in the Southern United States. I explore how the group channeled their frustration, tension, and anger in the face of Asian hate into hope and a passion to learn about the history of race in the United States and the Asian American community. Through weekly lectures, counter-storytelling, and in-depth discussions, I learned of their desire to name the racialized dread arising from everyday racism. By employing Critical Race Theory and Asian Critical Theory, and centering the Ethnic Studies’ liberatory approach to education, I demonstrate that the community’s perceptions of race and racism are shaped at the intersection of U.S. imperialism, South Korea’s transnational ideology of meritocracy, and the legacy of the unending Cold War on the Korean Peninsula. This paper also reflects on how engaging an ethnic community through teaching transformed my pedagogy and perspectives to be more decolonial and inclusive. In light of the current war on Critical Race Theory, this paper contributes to expanding discussions focused on reimagining and revitalizing the liberatory pedagogy of community as a way to confront racialized dread.

Exploring Gender Roles in Myanmar's Civil Society Organizations: A Qualitative Analysis

This study delves into the perceptions of gender roles within civil society organizations across Myanmar's diverse ethnic states. Employing qualitative methods, the research draws upon subjects identified in collaboration with the Center for Development and Ethnic Studies, with a focus on gender conscientization through focused-group discussion, seminars and workshops. The analysis reveals common themes across different ethnicities, spanning socio-political, economic, educational, cultural, and religious dimensions, all rooted in the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women. Findings show that culture and religion significantly influence gender roles, with men often perceiving themselves as superior decision-makers in various spheres, while women tend to be relegated to domestic roles. However, ongoing efforts in education, socio-politics, and economics are gradually challenging these stereotypes within Myanmar's civil society organizations.

Languages of the Indigenous Peoples of Siberia: Ethnic Translation Aspect

The article addresses the linguistic, anthropological and cultural prerequisites for the emergence of Ethnic Translation Studies, understood as an actively developing frontier zone of modern humanities. The symbolic meaning of the frontier is proposed in the translation discourse to denote the meeting zone of the old and the new, the studied and the unexplored. The recognition of the inherently complex and ambiguous nature of the frontier under consideration determines the need for its research within the framework of traditional areas of translation science and its corresponding categorical paradigm, as well as with the mandatory involvement of new knowledge, concepts and categories from “near” and “far” for Translation Studies scientific fields and, above all, the sciences of ethnic area. The integration of various approaches provides the required interdisciplinary approach to the ethnic text - a new object of translation activity and an unconditional key concept of Ethnic Translation Studies, which is currently at the stage of its formation and acquisition of a categorical apparatus. The ethnic text is defined in the study as an ethnocultural information “capsule” that arises and functions in the cultural spaces of certain regions and the entire multilingual and polycultural world, which contributes to the preservation of cultural information and memory of a particular ethnic group and reveals a close connection with the cultural identity of its representatives, and also supports the cultural and linguistic diversity of mankind. The study, which has both descriptive and prescriptive character, is addressed to the situation that has developed in the field of translations of indigenous peoples of Siberia ethnic texts. The article defines the main areas and tasks of Ethnic Translation Studies, as well as further prospects for its application. Ethnic translation is understood as the “key” to the cultural information of ethnic text and an effective tool for preserving the unique languages and cultures of the indigenous peoples of Siberia, their revitalization and revival. The separation of ethnic translation into an independent field of Translation Studies involves the creation of new opportunities for representatives of “other” cultures of the world to get acquainted with the unique languages and cultures of Siberia, some of which are on the verge of extinction. Ethnic Translation Studies can also become important for maintaining and strengthening cultural identity among representatives of ethnic groups who have practically lost their mother tongue.

Where Are we Now and How Do we Move Forward?: Voices of Asian American and Migrant Teachers on the K-12 Ethnic Studies Movement

Situating NYC’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history curriculum initiative as part of the nationwide movement for K-12 ethnic studies, this article aims to explore perspectives and experiences of six Asian American and migrant elementary teachers regarding the new AAPI history curriculum initiative in NYC. Teachers’ stories, critiques, and proposals for change focused on (1) enhancing teacher education in ethnic studies pedagogy and curriculum; (2) inclusive and community-led process of ethnic studies curriculum development; (3) utilizing multimodal and local community-relevant resources; and (4) centering ethnic communities’ resistance and agency as well as power and oppression in the curriculum. By delving into the teachers’ experiences, hopes, and insights regarding the AAPI history curriculum implementation, this article adds to the literature on the current and future praxis of ethnic studies in K-12 education and teacher education.

Groby o domniemanych skandynawskich atrybucjach etno-kulturowych z obszaru państwa pierwszych Piastów w kontekście archeologicznych paradygmatów badawczych

In spite of the differences in the interpretation of early medieval graves of the discussed Norman or Ruthenian attribution, derivatives of different theoretical and cognitive paradigms, successive generations of researchers are united in their conviction of the exceptional nature of these graves in the Oder-Vistula interfluve. Archaeologists are also unanimous in treating them as burials from the 2nd half of the 10th to the 1st half of the 11th century which present a set of specific burial practices, distinguishing one of the groups of the secular elite of the first Piast state. However, researchers have different views on ethno-cultural valorisation of the discovered objects. In this case, the author maintains his earlier opinion that the burial practices of the individuals buried there are ‘rooted’ in the Scandinavian model of funerary culture of the Viking period. However, in the research process, it cannot be a sufficient premise for prejudging the ethnos. In order to give credibility to the conclusions, in line with the modern model of integrated multidisciplinary research, the hypotheses formulated by archaeology require verification by the results of molecular and isotopic studies of human bones. Limiting the ethnic study of archaeology’s necropolis sources to the indications of bio- and geochemistry is cognitively inadequate, as aDNA analyses only establish biological affinities. Isotopic studies determine the relationship of a deceased person to a specific geographical region, in both cases providing no insight into important aspects of early medieval human life like the mentality-determining membership of a socially and politically organised religious and mythic-ethnic-cultural community.

Autocratization as Ethnocratization? How Regime Transformations toward Autocracy Deteriorate Ethnic Relations

When a country becomes more autocratic, does it affect the relations between ethnic groups in a systematic way? Cross-national and case-based research witnesses how autocratization (the opposite of democratization) is becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly in societies where ethnic relations are politicized and polarized. However, we still lack sufficient knowledge on how autocratization might have an impact on ethnic relations. The paper advances previous autocratization and ethnic studies. It hypothesizes that if a country autocratizes, this further deteriorates its ethnic relations (ethnocratization). It substantiates this claim through a mixed-method design. It starts with a longitudinal analysis at the ethnic group-level, to demonstrate how ethnic discrimination and domination are more probable during autocratization episodes. Next, it examines a collection of international reports on the predicament of ethnic majorities and minorities in countries undergoing autocratization episodes, to identify two causal mechanisms as the main incentives and justifications of the incumbent (and autocratizing) elites: ideological legitimation and authoritarian experimentation. This research encourages scholars on autocratization and ethnic studies to join their efforts, to investigate how democracy and ethnic inclusion can decline in parallel and, thus, to show the reasons why they should advance together.

Ethnic Studies and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A New Approach to the Bamboo Ceiling

Ethnic Studies and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: A New Approach to the Bamboo Ceiling

Award for Distinguished Senior Career Contributions to Psychology in the Public Interest: Helen A. Neville.

"For her outstanding contributions in research, theory, and service to advance our awareness of color-blind racial ideology, Helen A. Neville's work is a model of psychology in the public interest. Her work supports efforts toward a solution to racism, one of the world's intransigent social problems. Dr. Neville and her colleagues pioneered conceptual models and measures that articulate the role of color evasion (ignoring race) and power evasion (denying structural racism) as key components of color-blind racial ideology that legitimizes racial inequality. Dr. Neville has integrated the science and practice of psychology to serve the public interest and advances social justice and human welfare as president of American Psychological Association (APA) Division 45, the Society for Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race, and president-elect of APA Division 17, the Society of Counseling Psychology. Dr. Neville has served the public interest through her exceptional editorial work in books and special issues and proposed guidelines on issues of culture, ethnicity, and race as an active member of distinguished APA committees. Dr. Neville and her colleagues have advanced our understanding of racial trauma and addressed their impact by promoting theory, research, training, policy, and interventions on radical hope, healing, and liberation." This award recognizes people who have advanced psychology as a science and/or profession by a single extraordinary achievement or a lifetime of outstanding contributions in the public interest. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Chicana/Latina feminism: What is it and how does it define us?

AbstractLatinas holding doctoral degrees are few and far between in the academic world as compared to their White female counterparts (National Center for Educational Statistics, 2020). We explore a crucial topic of Chicana/Latina feminism, which resists traditional theoretical concepts and methodologies in the field of adult education. Chicana/Latina feminism is a feminist theory that has transcended academic disciplines since its conception in ethnic women's studies. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to offer an in‐depth look at Chicana/Latina feminism by defining the origins of a Chicana feminist theory, exploring the need to decolonize adult educational research to allow a more inclusive space for women of color in academia, attesting to the application of a Chicana feminist epistemology with the use of testimonios, and discussing the implications of embedding Chicana feminist perspectives in adult educational research.

Doing politics from the margins: ethnicity, harassment and gender-based political violence case study of former councilors in the department of La Paz, 2015-2021

This article discusses the application of Law 243 on Violence and Political Harassment in Councilors and Mayors of the department of La Paz who served during the 2015 - 2021 mandate period, emphasizing the work of the Association of Councilors and Mayors of La Paz. ACOLAPAZ in the attention and representation of complaints of Violence and Political Harassment (VAP) and the expressions of violence manifested towards this group during the mentioned period, reflecting through the ethnographic method and in-depth interviews on said problem; as well as the contemporary conditions of violence in Bolivia and the differences due to gender and ethnicity.

Ethnic Studies: Students’ Attainment of the Seven Essential Outcomes

Ethnic Studies: Students’ Attainment of the Seven Essential Outcomes

Evaluation of a Prognostic 23-Gene Expression Panel in a Set of 390 Multiethnic Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients

Classic Hodgkin lymphoma (CHL) is a curable lymphoma with unique epidemiological features, including rare neoplastic cells, and an adolescent/young adult age (AYA) incidence peak higher in females, correlated with socioeconomic status. We previously reported that RNA expression measured in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues using a panel of 23 immune response genes was associated with 5-year overall survival (OS) in predominantly White/European advanced staged CHL patients treated with ABVD chemotherapy (Scott et al., 2013). Here, we conducted a study to evaluate if the 23-gene expression panel predicted 5-year OS in a real-world set of FFPE tumor tissue from racially/ethnically diverse populations in the U.S. and Mexico from the Multi- Ethnic Study of Hodgkin Lymphoma (MESH). Methods: We collected tumor blocks from 891 patients from 9 hospitals and 2 Residual Tissue Repositories in the U.S. and Mexico. Demographic and clinical data, including survival by month, age at diagnosis, birth year, race/ethnicity, sex, histology were abstracted. Patients were diagnosed from 1978 to 2018. CHL diagnoses and histological subtypes were validated by histopathology review. RNA was extracted and NanoString gene expression profiling was performed using 250-gene codeset including the published 23-gene expression (GE) panel (Scott et. al., 2013). 390 cases passed QC after applying a modified normalization protocol (Chan et.al., 2017). The multiethnic risk index was derived from a linear equation of the log 2 GE in MESH multiplied by the established regression coefficients (Scott et al., 2013). Next, we examined a dichotomized score using a cut-off value at the 75 th percentile. Both were tested for association with 5-year OS using a Cox proportional hazards model using R software 4.3.0 version adjusting for age as a continuous and categorical variable (15-39 and 40+ years), type of hospital that provided the samples, sex, EBV tumor status (assigned using EBER2), race/ethnicity, and histology. The 5-year OS was computed by right-censoring any patient that survived longer than 5 years. Proportionality assumptions were tested (using an alpha level of 0.05). Stratified models by categorical age and race/ethnicity were adjusted for patient demographical variables and effect heterogeneity was examined using a t-test. Result: The analytic set comprised 47% females and 44% Hispanic, 24% White, 20% Black, 9% Asian, and 3% Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiians. 62% were 15-39 years and 32% 40+ years at diagnosis. The multivariate analysis, excluding age, indicated an association between the risk index and 5-year OS (HR =1.41 (1.08, 1.93), p=0.01). However, including age attenuated the association (HR=1.18 (0.89, 1.57), p=0.25). When stratified by age categories, the continuous risk index was associated with 5-year OS only in the older age group: 15-39 years (HR = 0.89 (0.54, 1.47), p=0.65), and >40 years (HR = 1.47 (1.08, 2.01), p=0.02), indicating effect heterogeneity by age groups (p=0.09). We did not observe significant effect heterogeneity by EBV status (p=0.6), race/ethnicity (p=0.72), nor sex (p=0.33). When the dichotomized score was examined, the model was attenuated after adjusting for age, but stratification analysis showed an association in the older adults (HR= 2.8 (1.42, 5.51), p<0.01) with significant effect heterogeneity across age (p=0.02) (Figure 1). Evaluating the association between individual genes and OS, we found effect heterogeneity by age; two genes from the 23-gene panel indicated protective effects in the AYA but hazardous in older adults: B2M (p effect heterogeneity' =0.048) and APOL6 (p'=0.059). Individual genes with heterogeneity of association across race/ethnicity included RNF144B (p' =0.0021) with increased hazards in Whites compared to Blacks, whereas WDR83 (p'=0.018), PRF1 (p'=0.0018), LYZ (p'=0.0028) had higher hazards in Blacks compared to Whites, and RAPGEF2 (p'=0.036) had higher hazards in Hispanics compared to Whites. Conclusion: The risk index and dichotomized score derived from the previously developed 23-gene panel was significantly associated with OS among >40 year age group, with evidence of age effect heterogeneity. We detected 2 genes with an association that varied by age, and five across race/ethnicity, suggesting the importance of including diverse racial/ethnic and age groups in CHL patient populations when developing predictive models.

EBV Prevalence and Overall Survival in the Multi ethnic Study of Hodgkin Lymphoma (MESH)

Background: Classic Hodgkin Lymphoma (CHL) is a B-cell lymphoma characterized by rare Hodgkin Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells surrounded by immune cell infiltrates that define histological subtypes. In 1987, Weiss discovered that a minority of CHL tumors harbored an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) genome integrated into the genome of the HRS cell (EBV+ tumors) (Weiss, et al., Am J Pathol, 1987). A population-based study conducted in California reported 27% of CHL tumors were EBV+ with a higher prevalence in younger and older patients compared to adolescents and young adults (AYA), and in Hispanics compared to other racial/ethnic groups (Keegan, et al., JCO, 2005). We evaluated EBV tumor status and demographic characteristics and survival in a multiethnic set of CHL patients the Multi Ethnic Study of Hodgkin lymphoma (MESH). Methods: We collected 891 multiethnic cases of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor blocks of CHL diagnosed between 1978 and 2018. Patients were identified from cancer centers and hospitals in Atlanta, Los Angeles County, Mexico City, Philadelphia, Detroit, and the Residual Tissue Repositories from Hawai'i and Los Angeles County. CHL diagnosis and histological subtype were confirmed by hematopathologist review. Demographic and clinical information was collected from patient medical charts and state cancer registries. EBV tumor status was assigned based on EBER1 in situ hybridization performed using the Novocastra™ Epstein-Barr virus ISH Kit (Ready-to-use [RTU], Leica Microsystems, Inc. Buffalo Grove, IL) on 2mm cores arranged on tissue microarrays. EBV+ cases were defined by nuclear or cytoplasmic positivity in >5% of HRS cells, determined by a study hematopathologist (IS). We tested associations between EBV tumor status and age at diagnosis (pediatric [<15 years], adolescent/young adult [AYA, 15-39 years], older adults [40+ years]), sex, race/ethnicity (Hispanic, Black, Non-Hispanic White [NHW], Asian, and Hawaiian/Pacific Islander [HPI]), and histology (Nodular Sclerosis [NS]; Mixed Cellularity [MC]; Lymphocyte Rich [LR]; Lymphocyte Depleted [LD]) using χ-squared tests. We also assessed the association between EBV tumor status and overall survival (OS) right censored at 5 years using Kaplan-Meier and multivariable Cox regression analysis adjusted for age at diagnosis (continuous), sex, race/ethnicity, and histology (NS vs. other histologic subtypes). Results: To date, EBV results were available for 638 cases enrolled in the study. Frequency among those with EBV results was as follows: pediatric=45 (7%), AYA=373 (59%), older adults=217 (34%), male=347 (54%), Hispanic=246 (39%), Black=118 (19%), NHW=179 (28%), Asian=60 (9%), and HPI=20 (3%). Overall, 30% of the cases were EBV+. EBV positivity was higher in MC compared to NS cases across all age groups (p=<0.001). By histology and age, EBV positivity for both NS and MC was higher in pediatric (NS [45%]; MC [90%]) and older adult (NS [29%]; MC [64%]), compared to AYA cases (NS [16%]; MC [39%]). The AYA age group comprised the largest number of cases, the majority of which were EBV− (Figure 1). EBV+ cases were more common among males compared to females, with higher prevalence among males of pediatric (62%) and older ages (46%) compared to AYA males (24%), following the same pattern as histology. EBV positivity also differed by race/ethnicity (p=0.002), with the highest prevalence in Hispanics (38%) and lowest in HPI (10%). Survival analyses showed a statistically significantly different OS by EBV status (p<0.001), but after adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, and histology, there was no statistically significant difference in OS between EBV+ and EBV− tumor patients (HR=1.08, p=0.744). Conclusion: Our results were largely consistent with the previous literature on EBV positivity prevalence in CHL by demographic characteristics. We report low EBV positivity in HPI for the first time, albeit with small numbers in that group. The difference in EBV tumor status by sex is noteworthy, with females having a higher EBV− AYA peak, and males having a higher EBV+ AYA peak. Unlike previous reports, we did not observe an association between EBV status and survival with adjustment for demographic and clinical variables. More studies with diverse populations and larger sample sizes are needed to better understand the complex interplay of EBV patterns in CHL tumors and their significance in different populations.

Maternal Stress, Anxiety, Well-Being, and Sleep Quality in Pregnant Women throughout Gestation

Background: Maternal stress, anxiety, well-being, and sleep quality during pregnancy have been described as influencing factors during pregnancy. Aim: We aimed to describe maternal stress, anxiety, well-being, and sleep quality in pregnant women throughout gestation and their related factors. Methods: A prospective study including pregnant women attending BCNatal, in Barcelona, Spain (n = 630). Maternal stress and anxiety were assessed by the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)-validated questionnaires. Maternal well-being was assessed using the World Health Organization Well-Being Index Questionnaire (WHO-5), and sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire (PSQI). All questionnaires were obtained twice during the second and third trimester of pregnancy. A multivariate analysis was conducted to assess factors related to higher maternal stress and anxiety and worse well-being and sleep quality. Results: High levels of maternal stress were reported in 23.1% of participants at the end of pregnancy, with maternal age <40 years (OR 2.02; 95% CI 1.08–3.81, p = 0.03), non-white ethnicity (OR 2.09; 95% CI 1.19–4.02, p = 0.01), and non-university studies (OR 1.86; 95% CI 1.08–3.19, p = 0.02) being the parameters mostly associated with it. A total of 20.7% of women had high levels of anxiety in the third trimester and the presence of psychiatric disorders (OR 3.62; 95% CI 1.34–9.78, p = 0.01) and non-university studies (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.11–2.59, p = 0.01) provided a significant contribution to high anxiety at multivariate analysis. Poor maternal well-being was observed in 26.5% of women and a significant contribution was provided by the presence of psychiatric disorders (OR 2.96; 95% CI 1.07–8.25, p = 0.04) and non-university studies (OR 1.74; 95% CI 1.10–2.74, p = 0.02). Finally, less sleep quality was observed at the end of pregnancy (p < 0.001), with 81.1% of women reporting poor sleep quality. Conclusion: Maternal stress and anxiety, compromised maternal well-being, and sleep quality disturbances are prevalent throughout pregnancy. Anxiety and compromised sleep quality may increase over gestation. The screening of these conditions at different stages of pregnancy and awareness of the associated risk factors can help to identify women at potential risk.

“Mapping and projecting otherness in media discourse of the Russia–Ukraine war”

Abstract This paper shows how otherness, having a negative representation potential, is covered in media discourse with a focus on the first day of the Russia–Ukraine war. In this article, I specifically investigate the representation of otherness that weaves the web of relations within the “us versus them” narrative espoused most strongly by Teun A. Van Dijk (1992. Discourse and the denial of racism. Discourse and Society 3. 87–118, 2002. Discourse and racism. In David Goldberg & John Solomos (eds.), The Blackwell companion to racial and ethnic studies, 145–159. Oxford: Blackwell) and further developed within the premises of a proximisation theory (e.g., Cap 2013. Proximization: The pragmatics of symbolic distance crossing. Amsterdam: John Benjamins; Chilton 2004. Analysing political discourse: Theory and practice. London: Routledge). This framework concerns the positive self-representation of Ukraine and its performance contrasted with Russia’s negative other-presentation. Following this account, otherness serves as means of legitimising media actions as preventive measures taken to inform society about the past, create the present state of the world through assertions (Dunmire 2011. Projecting the future through political discourse. Amsterdam: John Benjamins; Searle 2010. Making the social world: The structure of human civilization. Oxford: Oxford University Press) which endorse media credibility and predict future outcomes with respect to the horror of the unfolding war. This study argues that the representation of otherness takes place at the proximisation level of certain lexico-grammatical choices that are used strategically by media to cover the narrative of a “permanent military standby” and the “immediacy of otherness”.

Ethnic Compartmentalisation: Greek Australian (Dis)Associations with White Australia and Indigenous Sovereignty

ABSTRACT Based on Greek diasporic articulations of historical consciousness in Australia, this article introduces an analytical framework called ethnic compartmentalisation. Bringing Australian studies of ethnicity into dialogue with settler colonial scholarship, ethnic compartmentalisation examines how Greek migrants/settlers fragment their sense of belonging to Australia. By compartmentalising their sense of history, race, and migration, the segments of the Greek diaspora in Australia justify their ongoing settlement on Indigenous lands by separating or leveraging the multiple parts of their inherited migrant histories as insiders and outsiders.

Combining Open Pedagogy and Undergraduate Qualitative Research: PhotoVoice as Method Toward Relational Reflexivity

Applying open pedagogical principles within the field of cultural and ethnic studies provides students with the opportunity to engage in reflections that capture the complexities of learning in an era of polarization—with national debates emerging on the role of pedagogy and the impact of environmental and public health uncertainty in the aftermath of how COVID-19 transformed the economic, social, and educational landscape. This article considers what it means to teach, and to learn during this epoch. It provides an assessment of how a student-centered framework prioritizing relationality and relational reflexivity can refocus engagement via a dynamic process by which students are empowered to simultaneously learn and contribute to knowledge production.