Independent School Rhetoric and its Role in the Neoliberal Construction of Whiteness

Recognizing the monolithic role that neoliberalism has occupied in United States (US) second half of twentieth century (Harvey 2005) and building on notions racial formation projects posited by Omi Winant (2014), Jeong-eun Rhee (2013) conceptualizes what she calls “neoliberal project” (or “NRP”). While applies idea NRP to understandings Asian-American identity US, this article first seeks broaden application include Whiteness. After establishing how functions reinforce Whiteness, I argue independent schools—a subset private schools US—function as fundamentally neoliberal organizations and, such, perpetuate ongoing recreation This is achieved, particular, through an explicitly market-based approach educational choice both language action. An analysis a recent report conducted National Association Independent Schools serves evidence for claim. The concludes with some initial suggestions strategies might adopt combat their tendency reify Whiteness those spaces.