Carla Ramirez
About
Carla C. Ramirez is Professor of Intercultural Education and Educational Counselling at the Department of Education and Lifelong Learning, NTNU. She holds an MA in Educational Counselling (2005) and a PhD in Education (2015), both from NTNU. Prior to her academic career, she worked as a school counsellor in upper secondary schools in Norway.
Her main research interest is the construction of "the Other," approached through decolonial theory, posthuman and new-materialist perspectives, and feminist theory. Drawing on intersectional analyses of ethnicity, gender, race, class, materiality and the body, she examines how discursive, social, and material phenomena framed by the "good intentions" of inclusion and tolerance can nonetheless reproduce exclusion, racism, and discrimination.
A central concern in her work is the question of social belonging: Who belongs? Who counts as "Us"? She investigates how otherness and difference shape students' learning, well-being and sense of belonging, and how inequality is created and sustained through Western ideals of humanity, objectivity, neutrality, individuality, development and progress. Throughout, she is committed to social justice and to recognition in all its forms, colours and materialities.
Ramirez is also a yin yoga teacher and meditation practitioner, and she brings contemplative social justice and embodied pedagogies into her teaching on affective processes and embodied knowledge. Her approach is holistic, exploring how we seek belonging, coherence and meaning. Inspired by contemplative methods and Indigenous wisdom, she builds connections between Eastern and Western knowledge traditions to foster liberation, healing, compassion and the acceptance of diversity.
In her research and teaching, Ramirez draws on feminist, posthuman, decolonial and post-qualitative approaches to understand diversity and processes of othering in identity and social relations.
PhD:
The school doesn't see me! A narrative and postcolonial study of social inequality in Norwegian upper secondary school, through minority students’ experiences of being different (2015).
This PhD thesis studies minority students' experiences attending upper secondary schools in Norway. I question the Norwegian cultural principle of equality, framed in silents assumptions of normality, hiding its positioning in Western, individualistic, and middle-class discourses, often understood as 'pedagogic neutrality and objectivity'.
Research Projects 2026:
- Cross-cultural upbringing in Norway (book project)
Research
Research Projects 2026:
Exploring narratives of ethnic minority women in Norwegian academia, by Carla C. Ramirez.
Based on narrative inquiries of female foreign academics working in a Norwegian university, this study applies posthuman, decolonial, and feminist perspectives to address how assumptions of normality, objectivity, progress, neutrality, gender, and race, creates fixed notions of how to be ‘a proper academic’ in Norwegian Higher Education.
Cross-cultural Upbringing in Norway (Book project)
Publications
Entangled with the past in Norwegian Academia
This article explores entanglements of matter, space, and temporalities in shaping academic subjectivities in Norwegian higher education.
Norskhet i bevegelse
Hva vil det si å være norsk, og hvem kan kalle seg norsk i samtidens globaliserte og flerkulturelle Norge?
The Wonder(s) of Barbie
Publikasjon i Barn - Forskning om barn og barndom i Norden
Rådgivning i komplekse kontekster
Denne boken er en antologi om rådgivning i dagens komplekse samfunn
2026
-
Elden, Ingrid;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
3. Realitetsorientering eller drømmeknusing? Karriereveiledning av etnisk minoritetselever i videregående skole.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Isaksen, Veronica;
Saur, Ellen;
Bostad, Runa Rannov.
(2026)
Innledning: Rådgivning i komplekse kontekster.
Academic chapter
-
Essahli, Nassira;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
Kaleidoskoparbeid - rådgivere i mangfoldige skoler.
Academic chapter
-
Saur, Ellen;
Isaksen, Veronica;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
Rådgivning i komplekse kontekster.
Scandinavian University Press (SCUP)
Anthology
2025
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Ursin, Marit.
(2025)
The Wonder(s) of Barbie: Entanglements of Racism, Body Shame and Doll Play in a Norwegian Primary School.
Barn – forskning om barn og barndom i Norden
Academic article
-
Hoem, Irene Bisasso;
Ursin, Marit;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2025)
The transformative power of representation among youths: toward appreciating diversity and inclusion in Norway.
Frontiers in Education
Academic article
2024
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Lyså, Ida Marie.
(2024)
Norskhet i bevegelse.
Cappelen Damm Akademisk
Anthology
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Lyså, Ida Marie.
(2024)
Norskhet og rasialisering – friksjon, omveltning og utvidelse.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2024)
Betydning av materialitet for tilhørighet til Norge.
Academic chapter
-
Engan, Laila;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2024)
På vei inn i norskheten - gradvise overganger for ungdom med kort botid i Norge.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Kalkman, Kris;
Engan, Laila.
(2024)
Andregjøring gjennom undervisningsmetoder: En blindsone i norsk skole?.
Academic chapter
2023
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2023)
Entangled with the past in Norwegian academia.
Gender and Education
Academic article
2022
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Fargeblindhet i norsk skole.
Non-fiction chapter
-
Åberg, Ingvill Bjørnstad;
Christensen, Erik;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Othering in the age of “diversity”. Cultural, ethnic and racial categorisations in education policy and social studies.
Nord universitet
Doctoral thesis
2021
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2021)
Hvordan skapes utenforskap i skolen?
ikke-vestlig minoritetsungdom forteller sine historier.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2021)
Epistemic Disobedience and Grief in Academia.
Education Sciences
Academic article
2020
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2020)
Å lære studentene om kritisk refleksivitet gjennom lærerens pedagogiske sensitivitet i undervisningen.
Læring om læring
Academic article
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2020)
Kvalitet for transnasjonale elever.
Academic chapter
2018
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-;
Oldervik, Heidun;
Saur, Ellen.
(2018)
Hvordan kan kunnskap om postkolonial teori gi PP-rådgivere en bedre forståelse av barn og unge med minoritetsbakgrunn?.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2018)
Om å være farget - Betydning av hudfarge for ungdom med ikke-vestlig minoritetsbakgrunn.
Academic chapter
2017
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2017)
Becoming a "Foreigner": The Principle of Equality, Intersected Identities, and Social Exclusion in the Norwegian School.
European Education : Issues and Studies
Academic article
2015
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2015)
Skolen ser ikke hele meg!
En postkolonial og narrativ studie av sosial ulikhet i den videregående skolen gjennom minoritetselevers erfaringer av å være annerledes.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Doctoral thesis
2014
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-;
Solhaug, Trond.
(2014)
Jeg er annerledes. En diskusjon av erfaringer med å være annerledes i den norske skolen.
Academic chapter
Journal publications
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2020)
Å lære studentene om kritisk refleksivitet gjennom lærerens pedagogiske sensitivitet i undervisningen.
Læring om læring
Academic article
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2021)
Epistemic Disobedience and Grief in Academia.
Education Sciences
Academic article
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2023)
Entangled with the past in Norwegian academia.
Gender and Education
Academic article
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Ursin, Marit.
(2025)
The Wonder(s) of Barbie: Entanglements of Racism, Body Shame and Doll Play in a Norwegian Primary School.
Barn – forskning om barn og barndom i Norden
Academic article
-
Hoem, Irene Bisasso;
Ursin, Marit;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2025)
The transformative power of representation among youths: toward appreciating diversity and inclusion in Norway.
Frontiers in Education
Academic article
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2017)
Becoming a "Foreigner": The Principle of Equality, Intersected Identities, and Social Exclusion in the Norwegian School.
European Education : Issues and Studies
Academic article
Books
-
Saur, Ellen;
Isaksen, Veronica;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
Rådgivning i komplekse kontekster.
Scandinavian University Press (SCUP)
Anthology
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Lyså, Ida Marie.
(2024)
Norskhet i bevegelse.
Cappelen Damm Akademisk
Anthology
Part of book/report
-
Elden, Ingrid;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
3. Realitetsorientering eller drømmeknusing? Karriereveiledning av etnisk minoritetselever i videregående skole.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Isaksen, Veronica;
Saur, Ellen;
Bostad, Runa Rannov.
(2026)
Innledning: Rådgivning i komplekse kontekster.
Academic chapter
-
Essahli, Nassira;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
Kaleidoskoparbeid - rådgivere i mangfoldige skoler.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Lyså, Ida Marie.
(2024)
Norskhet og rasialisering – friksjon, omveltning og utvidelse.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Fargeblindhet i norsk skole.
Non-fiction chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2021)
Hvordan skapes utenforskap i skolen?
ikke-vestlig minoritetsungdom forteller sine historier.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2024)
Betydning av materialitet for tilhørighet til Norge.
Academic chapter
-
Engan, Laila;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2024)
På vei inn i norskheten - gradvise overganger for ungdom med kort botid i Norge.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-;
Solhaug, Trond.
(2014)
Jeg er annerledes. En diskusjon av erfaringer med å være annerledes i den norske skolen.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Kalkman, Kris;
Engan, Laila.
(2024)
Andregjøring gjennom undervisningsmetoder: En blindsone i norsk skole?.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-;
Oldervik, Heidun;
Saur, Ellen.
(2018)
Hvordan kan kunnskap om postkolonial teori gi PP-rådgivere en bedre forståelse av barn og unge med minoritetsbakgrunn?.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2018)
Om å være farget - Betydning av hudfarge for ungdom med ikke-vestlig minoritetsbakgrunn.
Academic chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2020)
Kvalitet for transnasjonale elever.
Academic chapter
Student thesis or dissertation
-
Åberg, Ingvill Bjørnstad;
Christensen, Erik;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Othering in the age of “diversity”. Cultural, ethnic and racial categorisations in education policy and social studies.
Nord universitet
Doctoral thesis
-
Ramirez, Carla Chinga-.
(2015)
Skolen ser ikke hele meg!
En postkolonial og narrativ studie av sosial ulikhet i den videregående skolen gjennom minoritetselevers erfaringer av å være annerledes.
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Doctoral thesis
Teaching
Courses
Outreach
2026
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Contribution to radio or TVUrsin, Marit; Ramirez, Carla. (2026) Barbielek førte til rasitiske holdninger blant førsteklassinger.
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InterviewEgge, Julie Haugan; Vollan, Mette; Ursin, Marit; Ramirez, Carla. (2026) Observerte lek med barbiedukker: – Vondt å være vitne til.
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InterviewHaugan, Idun; Ursin, Marit; Ramirez, Carla. (2026) – Jeg liker ikke hudfargen: Barbie-dukker trigget forskjellsbehandling.
2025
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LectureRamirez, Carla. (2025) Decolonial posthuman feminisms. P.h.D Course Race, Space and Affect - Critical Inquiries into processes of Othering, Racialization and Non-belonging
2023
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InterviewRamirez, Carla Macarena Chinga. (2023) Paneldebatt i forbindelse med lansering av verktøykassa for likestilling og mangfold ved NTNU.
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LectureRamirez, Carla. (2023) Dekolonial feminisme og dens relevans for norsk forskning. Åpent seminar for SU-fakultetet, NTNU
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Conference lectureRamirez, Carla. (2023) Assemblages of differences in a first-grade primary school in Norway. European Conference on Educational Research, ECER
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Conference lectureRamirez, Carla. (2023) Assemblages of difference in a Norwegian first grade elementary school. 40th anniversaty conference of the Nordic Journal BARN, At critical crossroads in Nordic Childhood Studies
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LectureRamirez, Carla; Ursin, Marit. (2023) Methodological considerations, challenges, and reflections around ethical issues in research on children and racism. 40th anniversaty conference of the Nordic Journal BARN, At critical crossroads in Nordic Childhood Studies
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Feature articleRamirez, Carla Macarena Chinga; Hoem, Irene Bisasso; Ursin, Marit; Jjunju, Charlotte; Lyså, Ida Marie. (2023) Finnes det virkelig ikke 'farge' i norsk høyere utdanning og arbeidsliv?.
2022
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LectureRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2022) Minority women in Norwegian academia. Nordic Educational Research Association - NERA pre-conference
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Feature article
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Conference lectureRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2022) Pedagogy of discomfort in precarious times. Nordic Educational Research Association - NERA
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Interview
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Conference lectureLangfeldt, Camila Caldeira; Ramirez, Carla. (2022) What is a multicultural school? Observations from a heterogeneous first-grade classroom in Norway. I International Conference on Child Studies
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Feature article
2020
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LectureRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2020) Lower Expectations, Fragmentation and Misinterpretations. Ethnic Minority Women in the Norwegian Academia. ECER 2020: Educational Research (Re)connecting Communities
2019
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LectureRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2019) Ethnic minority women in the Norwegian academia. Academic seminar, Center for Educational Justice
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Conference lectureRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2019) Transnationalism as social belonging. Another Brick in the Wall: Transforming Education
2018
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Conference lectureRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2018) Fra fokus på kulturforskjeller til blikk for mangfold og kompleksitet. Fagtorg for PP-rådgivere Midt-Norge, 2018
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LectureUrsin, Marit; Ramirez, Carla Chinga-. (2018) Skoleliv og ungdomsliv: En presentasjon av elevenes tanker og opplevelser, skole 2. Erfaringskonferanse på vgs skole 2
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LectureUrsin, Marit; Ramirez, Carla Chinga-. (2018) Skoleliv og ungdomsliv: En presentasjon av elevenes tanker og opplevelser, skole 1. Erfaringskonferanse på vgs skole 1
2017
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Contribution to radio or TVRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2017) SEVU-PPT Nett. Nettbasert læringsressurs for PP-tjenesten. Modul/film: Etnisk mangfold i skolen.
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Contribution to radio or TVRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2017) SEVU-PPT Nett. Nettbasert læringsressurs for PP-tjenesten. Modul/film: Interkulturell kommunikasjon.
2016
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Conference lectureRamirez, Carla Chinga-. (2016) “Impossible bodies” and the creation of minority students’ subjectivities in Norwegian upper secondary schools. The 18th Nordic Migration Conference, Oslo, August 11-12, 2016
2011
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Conference lectureChinga, Carla Macarena. (2011) Immigrant youth in transition: How do Skandinavian teachers reflect upon immigrant students in upper secondary school?. International conference
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Conference lectureChinga, Carla Macarena. (2011) Immigrant youth in transition: Collectivistic orientations in an individualistic school culture. Results from a pilot study. NERA's 39th Congress - Rights and Education
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Conference lectureChinga, Carla Macarena. (2011) Kulturmøter: Hvordan endres identiteten? Et sosiokonstruktivistisk perspektiv. Forelesning