A Call for Social Justice Researchers: Intersectionality as a Framework for the Study of Human Movement and Education

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Mara Simon Springfield College, Springfield, MA, USA

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Jihyeon Lee Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, USA

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Megen Evans Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, USA

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Sheldon Sucre Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, USA

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Laura Azzarito Teachers College, Columbia University, NY, USA

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DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1123/kr.2021-0009
Keywords:
counternarrative; counterstory; critical race theory; deficit discourse; health disparities
First Published Online:
17 Dec 2021
In Print:
Volume 11: Issue 2
Page Range:
149–157
Restricted access

This paper advances a socio-educational and critical orientation for the study of human movement to valorize and recenter voicelessness. Representing the subjugation of marginalized people can open up possibilities for transformative research projects invested in the reimagining of equitable and inclusive studies of human movement and education. First, the authors suggest that ongoing intellectual tensions in the field are unproductive; instead, the authors advance a social justice agenda, advocating for an educational, sociocultural, and critical orientation toward human movement. Second, the authors argue for moving beyond the “exercise is medicine” mantra as a dominant, normative framing of kinesiology. Third, drawing from a socio-educational perspective, the authors propose intersectionality as a crucial component of critical race theory to explore and center the significance of health, physical activity, and movement in the lives of Black, Latinx, Native, LGBQ, and transgender groups, people with disabilities, and those who face body weight stigma, from their own viewpoints.

Simon (msimon3@springfield.edu) is corresponding author.

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