Report by Yaxuan Wang, class of 2027 & Photo by Ruixiang Hu, class of 2027
On Friday, October 11, 2024, around 10 DKU faculty, staff, and students gathered for our second reading group session on “Embracing Diversity: Developing Cultural Competence for Inclusive Education.” We were delighted to welcome both returning participants and first-year students for this engaging and thought-provoking discussion.
This session began with the “Word of the Day” activity focused on intersectionality. Zhenjie Weng and Yanan Zhao led participants in exploring how various aspects of identity—such as gender, ethnicity, and social class—intersect and contribute to unique experiences of privilege or discrimination. Participants reflected on their own identities through a personal exercise, highlighting how intersecting components can shape individual experiences.
The session’s main reading was Xia (2024), which examined intersectionality and discrimination among LGBTQ+ Asian international students in the U.S. education system. This study highlighted the additional layers of discrimination that LGBTQ+ students from East Asia face due to cultural conflicts, including internalized homophobia, while attempting to adjust to a new educational environment. Participants engaged in an insightful discussion about the cultural norms in East Asia that influence the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as how these norms intersect with racial and gender identities to complicate the experiences of students studying abroad.
The session concluded with a group activity where participants worked on creating scenarios that reflected the intersectionality challenges faced by LGBTQ+ international students. This hands-on approach helped foster a deeper understanding of the topic, encouraging participants to consider how educators can create more inclusive and supportive environments.
The event was organized by Zhenjie Weng, Assistant Professor of English Language Education, and Yanan Zhao, Senior Lecturer of English for Academic Purposes, from the Language and Culture Center, and was sponsored by the Humanities Research Center. Student worker Yaxuan Wang also contributed to the success of the event. Our next reading group session will be held on November 8, 2024.
