Abstract
In this short paper, I will give examples of critiques of the new US administration members, including Devos, that are either practical critiques that highlight rights without justice or single axis critiques that hinge on one marginalized identity, both of which are necessary but not enough on their own. I conclude by calling for these arguments to address the underlying ideology that difference is deficit and naming the need for an intersectional approach to justice.
Notes
1. For a discussion on settler colonialism, see Patel, Citation2015
2. Not all cabinet appointees are white, there are three cabinet picks who are people of color thus far: Ben Carson, Elaine Chao, and Nikki Haley. Yet the majority of the cabinet is white and male.
3. For a succinct and clear discussion of school choice and vouchers, see Vasquez Heilig, Citation2013
4. Duncan was also criticized for minimal education experience; he was CEO of Chicago Public Schools though before that had minimal education experience (https://www2.ed.gov/news/staff/bios/duncan.html). Devos has never held any role in education beyond donor (http://www.betsydevos.com/).
6. Using disabled students instead of students with disabilities is a purposeful language choice shifting from the person-first to the identity-first, which many in the disability community have called for repeatedly (see Brown, Citation2011 for more information).
7. In order to consistently name the multiple and intersecting patterns of oppression (e.g. racism, ableism, sexism), I use the term ‘multiply-marginalized.’ This is not to erase differences, but to give us a way to consistently center the multiple oppressions people of color face.
9. I consider this word a slur meant to dehumanize and therefore will not write it in full.
10. See May & Ferri, Citation2005; Schalk, Citation2013 for the problems with using disability as a metaphor for lacking.
12. Often, single axis approaches to oppression suggest a fear of being associated with other oppressed identities. For example, white feminism has been afraid to embrace racial differences (Lorde, Citation1984).