“If You Do Not See It, It Does Not Exist for You”: Discursive Representations of Race, Racism, and Antiracism in Finnish Upper-Secondary Educational Guides

• In Event: Navigating Race and Place Beyond Black-White Binaries

Abstract

The aim of this article is to explore the discourses around racism and antiracism in formal and informal education in Finland. Until recently, Finland has often presented itself as an outsider of colonialism, remaining silent about its participation in promoting racist imagery. Discussions around race and racial inequity are relatively new in classrooms and youth services even though research suggests that racial prejudice exists at all levels of schooling and in public services (Rastas, 2007 & Alemanji, 2016). Through an evaluation of documents published by the Finnish National Agency for Education as well as guides for facilitators and learning materials published by non-governmental organisations, the article examines what kind of discourses are created through the lens of antiracism pedagogy.

Authors

• Maija Jones, University of Helsinki

• Jenni Helakorpi, University of Helsinki

• Erika Löfström, University of Helsinki

• Pia Mikander, University of Helsinki