Research Paper Introduction

Education is crucial in shaping, promoting or suppressing one’s self expression and potential. The current educational system, though provides social opportunities during which one can identify common values and solidify the confidence of expressing the “true self”, inevitably magnifies and projects social norms and stigmatization again some minority identities. Sometimes, people’s self identities contradict the mainstream value, and the exclusion and forcible conformity result in low self esteem. As a result, they tend to conceal or eradicate the identity to accommodate to the social environment. Out of the dissent against the constrictive educational standard, Davidson proposed the educational model that features an interactive and student-driven learning system to foster a diverse and inclusive educational environment. Extending from her model focusing mainly on academic performance, the educational reform should also target an inclusive and supportive environment for constructing self identity, since the one need to accept and embrace his or her own identity to maintain a robust mental health and transition to societal environment successfully as a result of education. Solomon explicitly points out the struggle LGBTQ+ group meet during education, social interaction and family communication. The denial of self identity resulted from the restrictive family and societal values causes depression, risky behaviors and loss of self respect. Many minority groups such as cultural groups, LGBTQ+ groups and groups suffering from disabilities are often constrained and ashamed of expressing the identity because the difference is often interpreted as defected or inferior. Thus, the education should be modified to be a bridge that connects the self identity of minority groups with the society’s value, encourage an active elevation of self esteem rather than an enforcement of values. The communication with language and styles used by the specific group, a close interaction with parental support and student-led reflection can foster a strong self esteem and encourage unconstrained self expression, creating an welcoming and free social environment. \