Work

“Excluded Participation”: Some Observations of Non‐Reciprocal Interaction in a Danish Fifth Grade Classroom

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This article introduces the concept of excluded participation to examine how inclusion and exclusion are negotiated in real time within a Danish fifth‐grade classroom. Using a micro‐sociological framework, particularly the work of Erving Goffman, the study focuses on the case of Anders, a student whose participation is symbolically recognized yet functionally unreciprocated. Through observations and narrative analysis, this study illustrates how Anders' engagement takes on an as‐if quality, sustained through a collective mise‐en‐scène of inclusion that conceals his exclusion. This demonstrates how exclusion can persist in ostensibly inclusive settings, not through overt rejection but through the absence of reciprocal validation. The study thereby highlights the need to account for the micro‐processes of interaction that shape participation in everyday school life as a foundation for developing realistic inclusion policies.

Source: Symbolic Interaction

DOI: 10.1002/symb.70005

Author: Jørn Bjerre

Institution: Aarhus University

Language: English

Topic: Social and Cultural Dynamics

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450