Non-Inclusivity, Discrimination and the Othering of Female Students in Higher Education with Lived Experience of Trauma and Adversity

Abstract

This chapter explores the experiences of female students who have lived experiences of adversity and trauma in their interactions with UK higher education personnel when they disclose and ask for support. The findings demonstrate that despite HE policies promoting inclusivity and equality, there is a deficit in the approaches taken by frontline staff towards students. This nurtures a harmful culture of othering which often leads women to early withdrawal from their studies. Solutions to this problem include training and awareness for HE staff including a trauma informed approach which recognises and responds to the rapidly changing student population.