Canada is Not an Educational “Dreamland”: Activism and Exploring Layers of Oppression and Denial

Abstract

In the realm of global education, Canada is often hailed as a dreamland, a beacon of democratic and equitable schooling. However, within this seemingly idyllic narrative lies a complex tapestry of hidden oppressions. Two activist-teachers-academics, one of us a queer, white settler on stolen lands, the other a newcomer from Iran, both of us women and mothers, come together to expose these concealed layers of oppression within the Canadian education system. Through the lens of post-qualitative autoethnography, we embark on a deeply personal and professional exploration of our experiences as parents of school-aged children, teachers, and teacher-educators within the Canadian school system. We share our design of An Onion of Oppression to expose denialism and to explore the ways in which activism in research involves letting go, opening to other possibilities, and actively choosing to be activists.