Volunteer work as a neo-colonial practice: Racism in transnational education

Abstract

In our ethnographic study we were focusing on constructions of difference concerning different categories of difference such as race and gender, but also age, class, etc. Those categories of difference are constructed simultaneously in social processes and they are also reproduced in interactions in volunteer work abroad, which is currently booming among young people. We refer to powerful practices of self-ascription and consider this critically in the case of volunteer work. We considered the interactions between the white volunteers and the local people by interacting with them, and thus we identified an imbalance of power and dominance, for example, in educational practices. Categorizations of difference concerning race were dominant and they influenced all interactions decisively. In addition, they arranged gender constructions along the characteristics of color. We defined this fact as a perpetuation of colonial practices which unconsciously have an effect. These attributions are internalized and reproduced in interaction processes.

Keywords:

• Volunteer work
• racism
• gender
• intersectionality
• neo-colonialism

Acknowledgement

First, we would like to express our gratitude. This study would not have come into effect without the ideational and materialistic support of different persons and organizations. Best of all Professor Lotte Rose, who encouraged our project and helped us to realize it. Her enthusiasm and her enriching impulse motivated us throughout our work. Our thanks also go to the gFFZ – Gender- und Frauenforschungszentrum der hessischen Hochschulen (Center of research into gender and women’s issues of the Hessian universities), the department of Health and Social Work (Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences) and the Hans-Böckler-Foundation for their financial support. We are grateful to Ruth Schubert for her language editing services, and Sarah Tolba for her critical view at our results. Finally, we would like to thank all the participants of our study.

Notes

1. All quotations from German authors have been translated by R. Schubert.