Viewing child development through the prism of intersectional identities

The childhood years spent in a school setting are arguably one of the most significant time periods of a person’s life; it is where one develops a sense of identity, worth and ways to engage with the larger world around them. Across our world, there are a range of intersectional identities such as gender, colour, religion, race, ability, and many more. Owing to the myriad of systemic influences such as social practices, power dynamics, context-based access, etc., children from afflicted intersectional identities face different forms of discrimination and abuse, ranging from subtle to severe, within the school system. This has a tremendous impact on both their internal and external development as a person. There is deep and lasting influence on how the child shapes up; the values and attitudes they build, the aspirations they think they are worth and how they perform socially, emotionally and academically during their school years. Through the session we will hold an inquiry approach to build a narrative on the range of intersectional identities and adversities, and the scale and depth of its influence on how children develop within the school system.