On this page you will find recommended search terms, background readings, and related guides.

This page highlights resources and strategies for researching diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility topics in the performing arts. However, when it comes to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within the performing arts, there will be a number of important resources beyond those that the library acquires through traditional scholarly publishing means. Scholarly publishing has, like higher education, excluded diverse voices and reinforced the white, western norms. Additionally, please take into consideration who might be considered an authority on the topic you are researching. Resources available freely on the internet (like blogs and newspapers) or discovery tools (like Google and Google Scholar) will be important for this research. 

Always start your keyword searching with what you know. However, if you're not sure where to start, below are some suggested search terms that are commonly used to describe materials in library tools. Many of these terms can be combined with the specific discipline, like music and race or dance and race.

For resources related to gender and sexuality, try:

• gender, gender identity, women [musicians / composers], feminism
• homosexuality and [subject], gays in the performing arts, sexuality, sex

For resources related to race and culture, try:

• race, race relations, racism and the arts, racism and education
• white supremacy
• decolonization, postcolonialism
• multiculturalism, cultural studies 

For resources related to accessibility and disability, try:

• accessibility, disability studies, ableism 
• artists with disabilities, actors with disabilities

For resources related to DEIA and education, try:

• multicultural education, inclusive education, social justice and education
• [subject] -- Instruction and study -- Social aspects

You can also add modifiers to your subject search to make your results more specific like:

• [subject] -- Political aspects
• [subject] -- Social aspects

Please note: The terms used by library catalogs and other library resources represent the (US-centric, patriarchal, white) point of view of those who created them. For example, you will find "Women musicians" as a subject heading in library catalogs, but not "Men musicians." In library catalogs, male and white are assumed, so "Musicians" will typically yield a result of white, male musicians. You will have to specify when you are looking for information about women, people of color, people with disabilities, etc. There are many in the field working to change this practice. 

In the past, MPAL has created guides to accompany courses that may be relevant to your research:

Other University of Illinois libraries have also created guides regarding various topics in diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility. These may be helpful to your research as well: