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/article/Conference paper
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Isaksen, Veronica;
Saur, Ellen;
Bostad, Runa Rannov.
(2026)
Innledning: Rådgivning i komplekse kontekster.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Essahli, Nassira;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
Kaleidoskoparbeid - rådgivere i mangfoldige skoler.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Saur, Ellen;
Isaksen, Veronica;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
Rådgivning i komplekse kontekster.
Scandinavian University Press (SCUP)
Scandinavian University Press (SCUP)
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
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
Cappelen Damm Akademisk
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Lyså, Ida Marie.
(2024)
Norskhet og rasialisering – friksjon, omveltning og utvidelse.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2024)
Betydning av materialitet for tilhørighet til Norge.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Engan, Laila;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2024)
På vei inn i norskheten - gradvise overganger for ungdom med kort botid i Norge.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Kalkman, Kris;
Engan, Laila.
(2024)
Andregjøring gjennom undervisningsmetoder: En blindsone i norsk skole?.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
2023
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2023)
Entangled with the past in Norwegian academia.
Gender and Education
Academic article
-
Ramirez, 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?.
Feature article
2022
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Fargeblindhet i norsk skole.
Chapter
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Den fargeblinde skolen. Kronikk.28.09.2022.
Feature article
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Kan jeg kalle meg norsk? Kronikk Adressavisen. 17.02.2022.
Feature article
-
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
PhD in the study of professional praxis (No. 45)
Doctoral dissertation
2021
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2021)
Hvordan skapes utenforskap i skolen?
ikke-vestlig minoritetsungdom forteller sine historier.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2021)
Epistemic Disobedience and Grief in Academia.
Education Sciences
Academic article
2020
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2020)
Å lære studentene om kritisk refleksivitet gjennom lærerens pedagogiske sensitivitet i undervisningen.
Læring om læring
Academic article
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2020)
Kvalitet for transnasjonale elever.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
2018
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla;
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/article/Conference paper
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2018)
Om å være farget - Betydning av hudfarge for ungdom med ikke-vestlig minoritetsbakgrunn.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
2017
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(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
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(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
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Doctoral dissertation
2014
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla;
Solhaug, Trond.
(2014)
Jeg er annerledes. En diskusjon av erfaringer med å være annerledes i den norske skolen.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Journal publications
-
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.
(2023)
Entangled with the past in Norwegian academia.
Gender and Education
Academic article
-
Ramirez, 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?.
Feature article
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Den fargeblinde skolen. Kronikk.28.09.2022.
Feature article
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Kan jeg kalle meg norsk? Kronikk Adressavisen. 17.02.2022.
Feature article
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2021)
Epistemic Disobedience and Grief in Academia.
Education Sciences
Academic article
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2020)
Å lære studentene om kritisk refleksivitet gjennom lærerens pedagogiske sensitivitet i undervisningen.
Læring om læring
Academic article
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(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)
Scandinavian University Press (SCUP)
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Lyså, Ida Marie.
(2024)
Norskhet i bevegelse.
Cappelen Damm Akademisk
Cappelen Damm Akademisk
Academic anthology/Conference proceedings
Part of book/report
-
Elden, Ingrid;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
3. Realitetsorientering eller drømmeknusing? Karriereveiledning av etnisk minoritetselever i videregående skole.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Isaksen, Veronica;
Saur, Ellen;
Bostad, Runa Rannov.
(2026)
Innledning: Rådgivning i komplekse kontekster.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Essahli, Nassira;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2026)
Kaleidoskoparbeid - rådgivere i mangfoldige skoler.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Lyså, Ida Marie.
(2024)
Norskhet og rasialisering – friksjon, omveltning og utvidelse.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2024)
Betydning av materialitet for tilhørighet til Norge.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Engan, Laila;
Ramirez, Carla.
(2024)
På vei inn i norskheten - gradvise overganger for ungdom med kort botid i Norge.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Ramirez, Carla;
Kalkman, Kris;
Engan, Laila.
(2024)
Andregjøring gjennom undervisningsmetoder: En blindsone i norsk skole?.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Ramirez, Carla.
(2022)
Fargeblindhet i norsk skole.
Chapter
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2021)
Hvordan skapes utenforskap i skolen?
ikke-vestlig minoritetsungdom forteller sine historier.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2020)
Kvalitet for transnasjonale elever.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla;
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/article/Conference paper
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(2018)
Om å være farget - Betydning av hudfarge for ungdom med ikke-vestlig minoritetsbakgrunn.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla;
Solhaug, Trond.
(2014)
Jeg er annerledes. En diskusjon av erfaringer med å være annerledes i den norske skolen.
Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Report
-
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
PhD in the study of professional praxis (No. 45)
Doctoral dissertation
-
Chinga-Ramirez, Carla.
(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
Norges teknisk-naturvitenskapelige universitet
Doctoral dissertation
Teaching
Courses
Outreach
2026
-
Programme participationUrsin, Marit; Ramirez, Carla. (2026) Barbielek førte til rasitiske holdninger blant førsteklassinger. NrK NrK [Radio] 06.12.2026
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InterviewEgge, Julie Haugan; Vollan, Mette; Ursin, Marit; Ramirez, Carla. (2026) Observerte lek med barbiedukker: – Vondt å være vitne til. Nrk Nrk [Internet] 06.01.2026
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InterviewHaugan, Idun; Ursin, Marit; Ramirez, Carla. (2026) – Jeg liker ikke hudfargen: Barbie-dukker trigget forskjellsbehandling. Gemini Gemini [Journal] 06.02.2026
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 , Copenhagen 07.04.2025 -
2023
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InterviewRamirez, Carla Macarena Chinga. (2023) Paneldebatt i forbindelse med lansering av verktøykassa for likestilling og mangfold ved NTNU. NTNU NTNU [Internet] 23.03.2023
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LectureRamirez, Carla. (2023) Dekolonial feminisme og dens relevans for norsk forskning. Åpent seminar for SU-fakultetet, NTNU , Trondheim 01.09.2023 - 01.09.2023
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Academic lectureRamirez, Carla. (2023) Assemblages of differences in a first-grade primary school in Norway. European Conference on Educational Research, ECER , Glasgow 21.08.2023 - 25.08.2023
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Academic 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 , Trondheim 16.08.2023 - 17.08.2023
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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 , Trondheim 16.08.2023 - 17.08.2023
2022
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LectureChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2022) Minority women in Norwegian academia. Nordic Educational Research Association - NERA pre-conference , Reykjavik 30.05.2022 - 31.05.2022
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Academic lectureChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2022) Pedagogy of discomfort in precarious times. Nordic Educational Research Association - NERA , Reykjavik 30.05.2022 - 03.06.2022
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InterviewChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2022) Nav Trøndelag Unge i arbeid. Adressavisen Adressavisen [Journal] 01.02.2022
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Academic 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 , University of Minho, Braga - Portugal 13.09.2022 - 15.09.2022
2020
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LectureChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2020) Lower Expectations, Fragmentation and Misinterpretations. Ethnic Minority Women in the Norwegian Academia. ECER 2020: Educational Research (Re)connecting Communities , Glasgow, Scotland 24.08.2020 - 28.08.2020
2019
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LectureChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2019) Ethnic minority women in the Norwegian academia. Academic seminar, Center for Educational Justice , Santiago 08.04.2019 - 12.04.2019
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Academic lectureChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2019) Transnationalism as social belonging. Another Brick in the Wall: Transforming Education , Amsterdam 11.11.2019 - 15.11.2019
2018
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Academic lectureChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2018) Fra fokus på kulturforskjeller til blikk for mangfold og kompleksitet. Fagtorg for PP-rådgivere Midt-Norge, 2018 , Trondhim 28.08.2018 - 29.08.2019
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LectureUrsin, Marit; Chinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2018) Skoleliv og ungdomsliv: En presentasjon av elevenes tanker og opplevelser, skole 2. Erfaringskonferanse på vgs skole 2 , Trøndelag 21.04.2018 - 21.04.2018
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LectureUrsin, Marit; Chinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2018) Skoleliv og ungdomsliv: En presentasjon av elevenes tanker og opplevelser, skole 1. Erfaringskonferanse på vgs skole 1 , Trøndelag 21.04.2018 - 21.04.2018
2017
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Programme participationChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2017) SEVU-PPT Nett. Nettbasert læringsressurs for PP-tjenesten. Modul/film: Etnisk mangfold i skolen. https://www.sevuppt.no/modul-1-radgivning-og-veiledning/modu https://www.sevuppt.no/modul-1-radgivning-og-veiledning/modu [Internet] 12.10.2017
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Programme participationChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (2017) SEVU-PPT Nett. Nettbasert læringsressurs for PP-tjenesten. Modul/film: Interkulturell kommunikasjon. https://www.sevuppt.no/modul-1-radgivning-og-veiledning/modu https://www.sevuppt.no/modul-1-radgivning-og-veiledning/modu [Internet] 12.10.2017
2016
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Academic lectureChinga-Ramirez, Carla. (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 , Oslo 11.08.2016 - 12.08.2016
2011
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Academic lectureChinga, Carla Macarena. (2011) Immigrant youth in transition: How do Skandinavian teachers reflect upon immigrant students in upper secondary school?. International conference , Emory University, Atlanta 12.05.2011 - 14.05.2011
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Academic 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 , Jyväskylä, Finland 09.03.2011 - 12.03.2011
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Academic lectureChinga, Carla Macarena. (2011) Kulturmøter: Hvordan endres identiteten? Et sosiokonstruktivistisk perspektiv. Forelesning , NTNU, Trondheim 09.11.2011 - 09.11.2011