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, T. D., & Hirshfield, L. E. (2011). `Why donât you get somebody new to do it?â Race and cultural taxation in the academy. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 34(1), 121â141. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2010.496489
- Ledgerwood, A., Hudson, S. T. J., Lewis, Jr., N. A., Maddox, K. B., Pickett, C., Remedios, J. D., & Wilkins, C. L. (2021). The Pandemic as a Portal: Reimagining Psychological Science as Truly Open and Inclusive. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/gdzue
- Padilla, A. M. (1994). Research news and comment: Ethnic minority scholars; research, and mentoring: Current and future issues. Educational Researcher, 23(4), 24â27. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X023004024
Originally drafted by: Bradley Baker
Reviewed by: Helena Hartmann, Bethan Iley, Aoife OâMahony, Charlotte R. Pennington, FlĂĄvio Azevedo