Culture clubs in Canadian Higher Education: Examining membership diversity

Authors

  • Victoria Surtees University of British Columbia
  • Natalia Balyasnikova University of British Columbia

Keywords:

diversity, identity, higher education, student clubs

Abstract

Culture clubs are student associations based around ethnic, cultural, or linguistic identities, such as the Persian club or Asian Union. At large postsecondary institutions in Canada, between 10-20% of student-run clubs, serving tens of thousands of ethnic minority students, are dedicated to some facet of culture. This paper describes this phenomenon and challenges the popular view of these organizations as self-segregated ethnic enclaves (Findley & Kohler, 2010) by investigating the diversity of identities within one particular club for Russian speakers. Drawing on poststructuralist theory (Block, 2007, 2010) which views individuals’ identities as multiple, dynamic and contingent, we discuss the lived experiences of three focal club members whose multiple positionings complicate notions about who joins such clubs and the role they play within institutions.

Author Biographies

Victoria Surtees, University of British Columbia

University of British Columbia, Department of Language and Literacy Education, PhD student

Natalia Balyasnikova, University of British Columbia

University of British Columbia, Department of Language and Literacy Education, PhD student

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Published

2016-11-08

Issue

Vol. 7 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Research Study/Recherche

License

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