Diversity in higher education: solidarity ends at the border to the under layer

diversity is not a neutral term that describes the natural and social diversity, but also a political program, especially in the universities of tremendous economic activity. It manifests itself, among other things, in the institutionalization of the diversity officer and interdisciplinary Diversity courses. The commitment to the promotion of diversity has become a part of the mission of some universities and the German research Foundation. Diversity policy says most of the politics of Representation. All as relevant to defined groups within an Institution should be represented on the various positions.

people are known to be regarding very different characteristics from each other. The University’s diversity discourse defines the characteristics of gender and sexual orientation are particularly relevant. In addition to women individuals that accepted a LGBTIQ-orientation (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, Queer), should be protected and, accordingly, in the institutions represented. From the perspective of the diversity of representatives it is particularly alarming when group characteristics are superimposed and lead to an “intersectional discrimination” of people.

discourses on diversity are themselves part of the social construction of reality. It is striking that in the outlined classifications of features of Diversity and equality policies, a key Disadvantage is to be as good as no mention of it: the social origin. In the sixties the so-called class was a Central motive of the student movement in question. The possibilities of social advancement for people of the lower classes have been created with the institutionalization of second-chance Education programmes. In the seventies, has a question, then the wife and since the beginning of the Millennium, the topic of diversity turning into the field of view is pushed. The social origin has become the forgotten side of the diversity discourse. Also the migration background of a Person plays in the University’s diversity discourse no or only a minor role.

a representation of the sexes

The question of which groups are under – represented in certain institutions and what is answer alone empirically. If you look at from this perspective, the diversity of students in terms of numbers the largest group of universities, then, surprising findings emerged. With a female share of 48.5 percent, within the student in the year 2017, which can be regarded the position of women in access to tertiary educational institutions as largely completed, even if the woman’s share varies widely between the subjects and groups of Subjects, and especially in the engineering Sciences is significantly lower. Also at the level of doctoral students, the proportion of women now account for 45.2 per cent (2016). In the course of the twentieth century, a strong increase in the educational participation of women is one of the most significant changes in the social structure of Germany.