Intersectional Field Analysis and Its Implications for Refugee Family Involvement in Special Education

• In Event: Sheraton Roundtable Session Ten
  In Roundtable Session: Understanding Families' Role in Supporting the Education of Students at the Intersections of Ability, Race, and Citizenship (Table 15)

Abstract

Refugee families of students with disabilities experience a range of challenges in their efforts to build equitable school-family partnerships. In this conceptual paper, we describe and apply intersectional field analysis as a method for educators to address these challenges and improve partnerships with immigrant and refugee families. We first introduce two conceptual frameworks, intersectionality (Crenshaw, 1989; Collins, 2000) and field analysis (Bourdieu & Wacquant, 1992). Next, we apply these frameworks to analyze power dynamics in special education and provide practical ways for teachers to understand refugee families’ intersectional identities and develop partnerships with them.

Authors

• Zach A. McCall, University of Kansas
  Presenting Author

• Ankita Bhattashali, University of Kansas
  Presenting Author