Examining the Emotionally Charged Classroom Environment

Presentation given at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting. Many college students find themselves in distressing situations when discussing issues involving race and sexual orientation within the classroom. The researchers in this study explored undergraduate students’ descriptions of emotional events while engaging in controversial topics in one undergraduate gender studies class. Student reaction to race and sexual orientation initiated discussions that brought to the surface emotions of shock, fear, denial, hurt, and violation. Qualitative analysis showed multiple occurrences of stereotypes used to describe “others” in when emotional events took place. The themes are further supported by Critical Race Theory, Feminist Theory, Intergroup contact, Queer theory and situated perspective of emotions. Implications of this project may open discussions on race and sexual orientation that are socially transformative