Symbolic and Concrete Violence in Educational Spaces: Reimagining Liberation and Justice

Multiple Presenter Session: Panel

Abstract

Research is a racialized practice of social action (Chang & Viesca, 2022). Educational spaces are often shaped by cultural scripts of whiteness, heteronormativity, patriarchy, and ableism. This panel explores how both symbolic and concrete forms of violence manifest in various educational contexts, K-12 settings, higher education, teacher preparation programs, and global sites like Iran. Panelists draw on frameworks including Critical Race Theory, Reproductive Justice, and arts-based research to highlight how discourses of oppression are reified in curricula, policies, and everyday practices. They also examine resistance strategies—from social media activism to counter-storytelling—that aim to dismantle oppressive structures and cultivate intersectional justice. By reflecting on our diverse positionalities, we illuminate structural and symbolic violence inscribed in educational spaces while proposing pathways for meaningful transformation. Ultimately, our panel situates violence in educational settings as both a global concern and a local call to action, urging us to pursue inclusive, decolonial, and equitable learning environments.

Sub Track

• AESA

Chair

• Stephany RunningHawk Johnson, Washington State University

Presenters

• Zahra Khodaverdi, Washington State University

• Zulekha Khamisi, Washington State University

• Jennifer C Harbour, Washington State University

• Dion Crommarty, Washington State University

• Malachi Chukwu, Washington State University

• Angel Bonilla, Washington State University