A Duoethnographic Exploration of Race and Gender: A Dialogue Between Female International Students in Canada

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v67i2.69293

Abstract

The number of international students in Canadian universities has dramatically increased since 2000. International students are believed to contribute significantly to education and research, as they bring a rich variety of perspectives, experiences, and languages. However, international students should not be categorized into one homogenous group. In particular, international female PhD students have many different reasons to immigrate and undertake a rigorous academic program. Whether to pursue high academic goals, gain personal knowledge, develop research skills, or widen employment opportunities, each student carries a different cultural background that informs their decisions prior to their arrival, their transitions, their adjustments, and subsequently their participation in the new culture. Using a duoethnographic dialogical approach and ideas about bonding beyond race and culture, this article focused on the experiences of two female international PhD students from Costa Rica and Nigeria as we answered questions regarding the intersections between race and gender within our processes behind mobility to Canada.

Key words: duoethnography, international students, race, culture, gender

Le nombre d'étudiants étrangers dans les universités canadiennes a augmenté de façon spectaculaire depuis 2000. On estime que les étudiants étrangers contribuent de manière significative à l'éducation et à la recherche, car ils apportent une riche variété de perspectives, d'expériences et de langues. Cependant, les étudiants étrangers ne doivent pas être classés dans un groupe homogène. En particulier, les doctorantes internationales ont de nombreuses raisons différentes d'immigrer et d'entreprendre un programme universitaire rigoureux. Qu'il s'agisse de poursuivre des objectifs universitaires élevés, d'acquérir des connaissances personnelles, de développer des compétences en matière de recherche ou d'élargir les possibilités d'emploi, chaque étudiante possède un bagage culturel différent qui influence ses décisions avant son arrivée, ses transitions, ses ajustements et, par la suite, sa participation à la nouvelle culture. En utilisant une approche dialogique duoethnographique et des idées sur la création de liens au-delà de la race et de la culture, cet article porte sur les expériences de deux doctorantes internationales du Costa Rica et du Nigéria alors que nous répondions à des questions concernant les intersections entre la race et le genre dans nos processus qui sous-tendent le déplacement vers le Canada.

Mots-clés : duoethnographie, étudiants internationaux, race, culture, genre.

Author Biographies

Lena Barrantes, Universidad Nacional, Sede Regional Brunca

Dr. Lena Barrantes holds a Ph.D. on Educational Research from the University of Calgary. She is an EFL instructor in her home country, Costa Rica, at Universidad Nacional, Sede Regional Brunca. She has an undergraduate degree with a major in EFL education, a master’s degree in Second Languages and Culture, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership. She has worked as a pre-service and an in-service EFL teacher trainer. Her current research focuses on the professional agency of EFL instructors in higher education and EFL teaching and learning. Her research works have been published in academic journals in Canada, Mexico, Spain, Argentina, Costa Rica, and Peru.

Glory Ovie, The King's University Edmonton

Dr. Glory Ovie is currently an Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at The King’s University Edmonton. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Research from the University of Calgary with a specialization in leadership. Her background and interests are in crisis leadership competencies, mental health and wellness, crisis response and management in postsecondary and K-12 institutions. She teaches pre-service teachers in areas of health and wellness and educational administration. She has 22 plus years of experience working in the field of education from K-12 to postsecondary. She has an undergraduate degree with a major in education and a minor in economics and a master’s degree in multidisciplinary studies with a focus on leadership. Her research works have been accepted and presented in conferences, and she has published articles in various Canadian journals.

 

 

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Published

2021-05-31

How to Cite

Barrantes, L., & Ovie, G. (2021). A Duoethnographic Exploration of Race and Gender: A Dialogue Between Female International Students in Canada. Alberta Journal of Educational Research, 67(2), 202–218. https://doi.org/10.11575/ajer.v67i2.69293

Issue

Vol. 67 No. 2 (2021): Summer

Section

ARTICLES

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