'Woke', intersectionality, critical race theory and decolonisation: misunderstood, misused and weaponised

The authors of this article, both educational researchers, frequently encounter misrepresentation, misunderstanding and political misuse of key terms historically used to address racial inequalities or social justice. Nationally and internationally, issues continually emerge in discussions concerning race and equity in higher education, impeding progress towards greater equity and diversity. ‘Woke’, ‘critical race theory’, ‘intersectionality’ and ‘decolonisation’ are among the terms and theories the authors have observed being weaponised, misappropriated and stripped of their original intent. While other terms have faced similar distortions, the confusion and misunderstandings of these words have resulted in their harmful and mainstream misuse against the very groups they were designed to support, hindering productive discussions and positive social justice changes. Discussions within the Network Evaluating and Researching University Participation Interventions (NERUPI) Student and Staf f Race and Ethnic Equity (SsREE) working group in the United Kingdom (UK) resulted in the production of a glossary that provides accurate definitions of frequently misused terms in race and inequality discourses.This article provides examples of the misappropriation of some key terms. It also outlines the process by which the glossary was developed and disseminated. The authors envision this glossary’s creation as a small step towards fostering better communication and promoting equity in the future.