Power & Identities in Intercultural Contexts

Power and identity are central to our understanding of cultures and intercultural interaction. In this class we will explore the role of situated and transportable identities at the individual and collective levels as well as power at the “me-cro”, micro, meso, and macro levels. In addition, we will consider topics including intersectionality, positionality, diversity, inclusion, equity, ethics, privilege, marginalization, markedness, and epistemologies and how they manifest across contexts. We will discuss ethical intercultural methods as well as how power and identity connect with and shape social justice processes and goals. Through in-class discussion, hands-on activities, discussion of case studies, interviews, and presentations, students will investigate their personal conceptions of power and identity in order to identify their professional philosophies and practices moving forward.

There are eight main Student Learning Outcomes for this course:

Conceptualize power and identity (and the relationships between them) at “me-cro”, micro, meso, and macro levels

Explore the roles of intersectionality, positionality, diversity, inclusion, equity, ethics, privilege, marginalization, markedness, and epistemologies in diverse contexts

Identify the roles of power and identity in social justice processes and goals

Examine case studies in intercultural contexts in relation to key course concepts

Practice intercultural communication skills, including active listening, perspective-taking, and audience coalescence

Use ethical intercultural methods (observation, interviews, critical discourse analysis) to explore power and identity across contexts

Articulate your professional philosophies and practices in relation to power and identity in intercultural contexts

Analyze and interpret your own experiences with power and identity through ongoing reflection (individual, group, anonymous, shared)