What happens when an authority questions cultural diversity? A social experiment in Alboraia puts prejudice and social pressure to the test

-Older people in Alboraia reflect on cultural diversity and racist prejudices in a new social experiment by La Ventanilla Indiscreta

-Almost fifty people took part in the seminar and local forum, which was attended by Alboraia’s Councillor for Equality and Welfare, Màbel Redondo

 LA VENTANILLA INDISCRETA | Video of the social experiment held in Alboraia on social pressure, racist prejudices and cultural diversity.

What happens when an authority figure publicly questions the validity of cultural voices that are different from the norm? How does a group of older people react when faced with the dilemma of defending what is different or remaining silent due to social pressure? This is the premise of the social experiment carried out in Alboraia in the framework of the project La Ventanilla Indiscreta.

On this occasion, several women from the local reading club were summoned with the excuse of meeting a new teacher, who proposed an innovative reading programme centred on contemporary African women authors. The atmosphere changes unexpectedly when a supposed education inspector bursts in and, in an authoritarian tone, begins to question the suitability of the content and the validity of the proposed authors. The aim: to observe how social pressure influences the expression of prejudices and the defence – or not – of cultural inclusion. What stance will the participants take?

As part of the complementary activities to the social experiment, a seminar was held in the General Culture classroom (Cycle 1) of the EPA of Alboraia, with the participation of twelve female students. Through a critical reflection on the Sustainable Development Goals, with special attention to SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 10 (reduction of inequalities), the participants connected these goals with everyday problems observed in their environment and with international current affairs, such as Trump’s policies or the situation in Palestine. The session, which was very participative, culminated in the ‘La Maleta’ dynamic, in which the students designed awareness-raising campaigns on issues that concern them, giving rise to proposals as diverse as a popular dinner, a literacy project for young people or a play.

The local forum brought together more than 30 people and was attended by Màbel Redondo, Alboraia’s councillor for Equality and Social Welfare; Nadia Tabib, a volunteer from Casa Marruecos; and Amparo García, a pupil taking part in the experiment. The meeting revolved around the viewing of the social experiment and the debate on how group pressure can condition the expression of racist attitudes, agreeing on the value of these dynamics to provoke reflection and raise awareness.

Alboraia facing the challenges of intercultural coexistence

Alboraia is a diverse municipality that has undergone a significant demographic change in recent decades. According to the INE and the Municipal Plan for Inclusion and Social Cohesion of Alboraya 2022-2026, more than 10% of its population is of foreign origin, mainly from countries such as Venezuela or Ukraine. This diversity brings cultural richness and contributes to the economic and social development of the municipality, especially in sectors such as agriculture, hospitality and care.

However, this coexistence is not without its challenges: stereotypes, discrimination, language barriers and difficulties in accessing public resources are still present. From the institutional and social sphere, measures have been taken to promote inclusion and social cohesion, but the role of citizens is key to generating spaces for dialogue and empathy.

In this context, the social experiment carried out by La Ventanilla Indiscreta has generated a brave and necessary space for reflection among older people in the municipality, demonstrating that the commitment to a fairer and more inclusive society is also built from listening and critical reading of the world around us.

La Ventanilla Indiscreta is a project promoted by Jovesólides with the aim of stimulating social awareness and promoting an active Valencian citizenship through the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Its main focus is social experiments with older people on issues such as migration, gender equality, Islamophobia, responsible consumption, decent work and cultural diversity.

The project is funded by the First Vice-presidency and the Department of Social Services, Equality and Housing of the Generalitat Valenciana.

You can follow all the news about the project with the hashtag #LaVentanillaIndiscreta on social media.