Stories to Challenge the Status Quo - Experiences of Black Minority Ethnic Social Care Students in Ireland

Authors

Margaret Fingleton, Technological University DublinFollow

Document Type

Theses, Ph.D

Disciplines

5.3 EDUCATIONAL SCIENCES, Social sciences

Publication Details

Submitted for the award of PhD, Technological University Dublin, May 2023.

Abstract

This study examines Black Minority Ethnic social care students’ experiences in Ireland and is located within the parameters of a number of key global events that occurred in the last decade. It provides critical insights into the students lived experiences of migration, resettlement, employment, higher education and social care scholarship.

Theoretically the thesis is grounded in Critical Race Theory (CRT) drawing on the key tenets of race as a social construction, interest convergence, White privilege, storytelling and intersectionality. A participatory research methodology was adopted which informed all phases of the study. Using a combined semi-structured interview/storytelling method the experiences of 21 female Black Minority Ethnic social care students in five colleges in Ireland were explored and core themes of loss, fear, distrust and adaptions were identified.

By hearing, amplifying and sharing the experiences and voices of these participants, the research highlights the intersectional and cumulative impact of structural, institutional, systemic and personal racism and oppression in Ireland. The discussion considers the core themes of loss, fear and distrust and assesses the implications for Black Minority Ethnic social care students living, working and studying in Ireland.

The lessons learned provide the basis for recommendations targeted at wider society, higher education and social care scholarship and signpost considerations for future research. A key action stemming from the study is the development of the Race Equity Informed Common Space community of practice currently piloted in TU Dublin. This action, based on collaboration and participation, will advance some of the lessons learned from the research.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.21427/JSRB-5W64

Recommended Citation

Fingleton, M. (2023). Stories to Challenge the Status Quo - Experiences of Black Minority Ethnic Social Care Students in Ireland. Technological University Dublin. DOI: 10.21427/JSRB-5W64

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.