Exploring Otherness, Microaggression, and Discrimination in Online Learning: A Survey Study of Higher Education Students With Diverse Backgrounds

• In Event: Diversity in Online Learning Environments

Abstract

This survey study investigates college students' feelings of otherness in the online learning environment and its impact on their engagement. Among 251 respondents from a predominantly white institution in the Southern US, the majority of students did not report feeling otherness or experiencing microaggression or discrimination due to their demographic differences. However, some students felt othered, negatively affecting their engagement. Levels of otherness varied, from minor feelings of being different to experiencing microaggression and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity/race, political orientation, and socioeconomic status. Classmates were the main driver of otherness, followed by course materials and instructors. These feelings influenced engagement in different ways, with most students intentionally disengaging and others altering opinions or making extra efforts to combat stereotyping.

Authors

• Hajeen Choi, Bowling Green State University

• Dan He, Florida State University

• Jaesung Hur, Florida State University