University students' perception of discrimination on campus in Turkey

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Toker Gökçe A.

JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY AND MANAGEMENT, vol.35, no.1, pp.72-84, 2013 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 35 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2013
  • Doi Number: 10.1080/1360080x.2013.748478
  • Journal Name: JOURNAL OF HIGHER EDUCATION POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
  • Journal Indexes: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.72-84
  • Keywords: campus, discrimination, exclusive behaviours, higher education, students, Turkey
  • Kocaeli University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

This study explores discrimination on campus in Turkey. The participants were 164 university students from the first, third, and fourth classes of two departments in a university in Turkey. The data was gathered through a questionnaire developed by the author. The results revealed that students were discriminated against because of their clothing style; their religious attitudes; their political leanings; their gender; their ethnicity; their hometown or nationality; their age; and their IQ levels on campus. Besides, it appears they were discriminated against by both lecturers and peers. This study contributes to the literature demonstrating types of discrimination, and exclusive behaviours resulting from discrimination in higher education in Turkey. The findings of this study highlight the importance of attracting the attention of lecturers to be aware of discrimination and biases in their classes, and policy makers to support non-discrimination by establishing diversity courses in higher education curriculum.