Intercultural Stories For Decolonial Research

In a decolonial research perspective and within the international debate, which calls for action to reduce inequalities and promote spaces for an equal dialogue in our complex societies by recognizing migration as an intrinsic factor of social development and change, our contribution discusses the methodological proposal of the research project “Women’s voices, plural perspectives. Professional life stories in educational and intercultural contexts”. This project aims at problematizing the identity and professional trajectories of some women with migrant backgrounds that are constructively engaged in Italian educational and social contexts. Starting from some professional life stories and in dialogue with intercultural and decolonial education, we give voice to these women in order to highlight how they bring their complex identities into play and weave their roles as women, members of a certain ethnic group and social class, and professionals engaged in care and education in a creative way, by bringing innovative insights and praxes into the work contexts in which they take part. In doing so, they invite us to overturn the usual perspective that often sees them as passive receivers of interventions and in need of outside help. Furthermore, they challenge us to decolonize pedagogical action and research and examine the implicit cultures of our institutions and their habitual power dynamics.