The Racialized Somatic Norm in the ELT Workplace

Puwar (2001) defines the racialized somatic norm as a figure that sustains racism within certain professions. In the context of English language teaching (ELT), the racialized somatic norm is the white “native English speaker,” who, because of colonial histories, is deemed the ideal user and teacher of the language. The purpose of this talk is to briefly explore the material and interpersonal consequences of upholding this somatic norm in the ELT workplace. For teaching professionals who do not physically and/or aurally resemble the white native speaker, there are increased hardships in finding employment and frequent challenges to their professional authority in the classroom. Moreover, they may be perceived as “strangers” in their own workplaces and feel compelled to engage in various forms of identity work to highlight their worth as instructors. Preliminary ideas on how to denaturalize the connection between professional competence in ELT and the racialized somatic norm will be offered.

Reference

Puwar, N. (2001). The Racialised Somatic Norm and the Senior Civil Service.north_eastexternal link Sociology, 35(3), 651–670.