Cultural taxation

Definition: The additional labor expected or demanded of members of underrepresented or marginalized minority groups, particularly scholars of color. This labor often comes from service roles providing ethnic, cultural, or gender representation and diversity. These roles can be formal or informal, and are generally unrewarded or uncompensated. Such labor includes providing expertise on matters of diversity, educating members of majority groups, acting as a liaison to minority communities, and formal and informal roles as mentor and support system for minority students.

Related terms: Invisible labor, Power imbalances, Power relations

References: Joseph and Hirschfeld (2011), Ledgerwood et al. (2021), & Padilla (1994)

Drafted and Reviewed by: Bradley Baker, Helena Hartmann, Bethan Iley, Aoife O’Mahony, Charlotte R. Pennington, Flávio Azevedo

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