The meaning of difference today. Reflections on the prevention of racism and sexism from childhood

Contemporary social reality is increasingly characterised by multiplicity and differences in ethnic and cultural backgrounds, gender, sexual orientation, learning styles and different abilities. The concept of difference is fully suitable for describing today’s society, but at the same time it is still imbued with stereotypes and prejudices that give the term negative connotations and a sense of inferiority with respect to a dominant model. In reality, neither individual nor collective identity is composed of a single category of difference. The intersectional approach (Crenshaw, 1989), which considers precisely the subject seen in the interaction of the various differences that distinguish it, highlighting the multiple and relational identity that distinguishes each singularity, proves to be particularly appropriate for understanding the complexity of lived lives. Starting from this theoretical framework, the paper will focus on some forms of distortion of the concept of difference, such as sexism and racism, to highlight how, in a subtle and subtle manner, they can insinuate themselves into our lives from childhood through formal, non-formal and informal education. Adequate initial and ongoing training of education professionals and constant collaboration with families is indispensable in order to make everyone more aware of the constant threats to which we are subjected, especially the youngest learners.