The cracking, colourful facade:: the performative inclusivity and realities of marginalized students in Dutch higher education

Zozan Çigdem Taskopru; Ashling Turner-Derksen; Ida Sabelis

The cracking, colourful facade: the performative inclusivity and realities of marginalized students in Dutch higher education

Zozan Çigdem Taskopru ^*
, Ashling Turner-Derksen
, Ida Sabelis

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

This paper aims to explore the gap between the inclusion policies of Dutch universities and the experiences of students. It seeks to provide a deeper understanding of student experiences, using an intersectional lens that considers nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socio-economic class, religion, first-generation student status and disability status.
Design/methodology/approach
A qualitative approach was adopted, including semi-structured interviews, qualitative surveys, non-participant observations and auto-ethnographic inspiration.
Findings
Students from diverse backgrounds face microaggressions and alienation in predominantly White spaces, with these inequalities hidden behind bureaucratic barriers such as privacy laws and ineffective complaint procedures, revealing university policies as a façade.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1-14
Number of pages	14
Journal	Multicultural Education & Technology Journal
Publication status	E-pub ahead of print - 2 Jan 2026

Funding

Dept. of Organization Sciences (Humanities) Vrije Unversiteit - studentassistenschap

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 4 Quality Education
SDG 5 Gender Equality
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Keywords

superdiversity
Higher education
dutch higher education
Inclusion
inclusion policies
Diversity

VU Research Profile

Connected World

Persistent URL (handle)

Persistent link

Cite this

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title = "The cracking, colourful facade:: the performative inclusivity and realities of marginalized students in Dutch higher education",

abstract = "This paper aims to explore the gap between the inclusion policies of Dutch universities and the experiences of students. It seeks to provide a deeper understanding of student experiences, using an intersectional lens that considers nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socio-economic class, religion, first-generation student status and disability status. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was adopted, including semi-structured interviews, qualitative surveys, non-participant observations and auto-ethnographic inspiration. Findings Students from diverse backgrounds face microaggressions and alienation in predominantly White spaces, with these inequalities hidden behind bureaucratic barriers such as privacy laws and ineffective complaint procedures, revealing university policies as a fa{\c c}ade.",

keywords = "superdiversity, Higher education, dutch higher education, Inclusion, inclusion policies, Diversity",

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year = "2026",

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AU - Turner-Derksen, Ashling

AU - Sabelis, Ida

PY - 2026/1/2

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AB - This paper aims to explore the gap between the inclusion policies of Dutch universities and the experiences of students. It seeks to provide a deeper understanding of student experiences, using an intersectional lens that considers nationality, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, socio-economic class, religion, first-generation student status and disability status. Design/methodology/approach A qualitative approach was adopted, including semi-structured interviews, qualitative surveys, non-participant observations and auto-ethnographic inspiration. Findings Students from diverse backgrounds face microaggressions and alienation in predominantly White spaces, with these inequalities hidden behind bureaucratic barriers such as privacy laws and ineffective complaint procedures, revealing university policies as a façade.

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KW - Higher education

KW - dutch higher education

KW - Inclusion

KW - inclusion policies

KW - Diversity

M3 - Article

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JO - Multicultural Education & Technology Journal

JF - Multicultural Education & Technology Journal

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