Education Commons^™

The Pedagogy Of Renewal: Black Women, Reclaiming Joy, And Self-Care As Praxis, Ashley R. Hall, Tiffany J. Bell

Journal of Communication Pedagogy

The 2020 quote defining the pandemic era was “The New Normal,” which, for Black women, implies a need for structural and personal transformation. In this essay, we incorporate the concepts of culturally relevant pedagogy (Bell & Jackson, 2021) and critical autoethnography (Boylorn, 2020; Boylorn & Orbe, 2021) to amplify a Black feminist ethos of self-care as an embodied praxis. Reflecting on the embodied experiences of two Black women professors, we advance a crucial notion of self-care as a pedagogy of renewal to reclaim joy through generative and transformative modes, methods, and meanings.

In Their Own Words: Examining The Educational Experiences, Expectations, And Values Of Oregon Low-Income, Single Black Mothers, Reiko Mia Williams

Dissertations and Theses

The long-standing achievement gap between African-American students in grades k-12 and their White counterparts has inspired many educational leaders and policy makers to seek a deeper, more comprehensive understanding of the various factors affecting the well-being of Black students. The conversation has historically focused on deficits and dysfunction while ignoring strengths and resiliencies. The research in this study investigates inaccuracies regarding Black families in order to change the conversation from one of deficits to a strength-based lens. In spite of the inequities that exist for Black families with regards to housing, employment, and health, Black parents remain committed to ensuring …

Understanding The Lived Experiences Of Trust And Help-Seeking Among Black Women: A Phenomenological Study, Laketa Sutton

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Trust and help-seeking are two important aspects of human development, growth, and social functioning. However, there are many meanings about how to define trust and help-seeking in scholarly research. There is also an absence of studies particularly surrounding Black women as it relates to trust and help-seeking beyond psychological and medical domains. The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study, using Colaizzi’s method, was to explore and understand the lived experiences of Black women regarding trust and help-seeking. Specifically, the study sought to understand how Black women experience and make meaning of trust and help-seeking. Based on Ajzen’s theory of planned …

"And Still I Rise": Exploring Black Women's Joy While Aspiring To The College Presidency, Courtney E. Matthews

Educational Leadership & Policy Studies Dissertations

Despite the expansion of literature on Black women college presidents, there is an oversaturation of the struggles Black women experience once in the role that is rooted within the role of racism and sexism. This study focuses on understanding how Black joy influences Black women's aspirations to pursue university or college presidencies at historically white institutions (HWIs). The legacy of Black joy in Black communities is one of healing, resistance, and restoration. Yet, little is understood about how Black joy impacts Black women's experience in higher education. Black women’s journeys to the presidency are a unique exploration of their present-day …

Black Women Students In The Ivory Tower: A Case Study Of The College Of The Holy Cross, Meah S. Austin

Psychology Department Student Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Higher Calling: A Qualitative Study Of The Lived Experiences Of Black Women Presidents Of 4-Year Colleges And Universities, Rushondra Janeé James

Theses and Dissertations

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), women are out earning men in the numbers of associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s degrees awarded. When separated by race, Black women are the largest proportionally, representing 64 percent of bachelor’s degrees among Black women and men. Moreover, Black women account for 15 percent of all master’s degrees and 10 percent of earned doctoral degrees among all women. Given the most recent NCES statistics, the student body of degree granting institutions includes a significant number of Black women students. Conversely, about 9 percent of all college presidents and 3 percent of full-time …

Black Women Vice Presidents Of Student Affairs At Community Colleges Leadership Pathways And Barriers, Danielle Sims Brooks

Dissertations

This study explored the lived experiences of five Black women Vice Presidents of Student Affairs (VPSAs) at community colleges through narrative inquiry to get a better understanding of the strategies Black women deploy to be successful as well as the challenges and barriers they must navigate. Data was analyzed from a purposeful sample of five Black women VPSAs to get a better understanding of the experiences of Black women executive leaders in higher education. Participants shared many similarities in their educational and professional backgrounds in higher education by their experiences with leading and developing essential areas in student affairs. Findings …

Creating A Nonprofit Organization To Combat Health And Healthcare Disparities Impacting Black Women, Chernee M. Gerald

Education Projects

Adequate healthcare is essential to the lives of all Americans; however, disparities exist in the quality of care and services available to marginalized groups in this country. For many years, there have been conversations and research conducted around the health and quality of healthcare provided to Black Americans; more specifically, the quality of care Black women receive. At the forefront of healthcare factors impacting Black women are breast cancer, maternal mortality, and the implicit bias of healthcare providers. This project uses survey data collected from Black women in the Charlotte-Mecklenburg community to identify the most pressing health issues of Black …

Seeing Our Voices: Using Photovoice With Trauma-Affected Black Women College Students Within A Pwi To Explore Success And Persistence, Dariane B. Drake

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The number of students reporting or seeking assistance for trauma has steadily risen over time. Research suggests that between 67% and 84% of students in college will experience a potentially traumatic event (PTE) in their lifetime. This percentage increases for women and for Black students. As the number of PTE exposure rises so too does the need to understand how trauma impacts education, learning, and personal development. Researchers have expressed a growing concern over the needs of trauma-affected students in recent decades. There is a dearth of research on the experiences of trauma-affected students and their overall inability to persist …

Carving Out Space: Black Feminist Theory, Morgan Barnes-Whitehead

History - Master of Arts in Teaching

I. Synthesis Essay………………………………..3

II. Primary Documents and Headnotes………..18

III. Textbook Critique……………………………..29

IV. New Textbook Entry…………………………..34

V. Bibliography………………………………….....35

Black Women At The Crossroads: Agency, Interruptions, And Oppression In Education, Kimberly D. Ferrell

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation utilizes intersectionality, critical race feminism (CRF), Black feminist research and case studies to explore Black women’s oppression in education. This research study contributes to a growing body of work on Black females’ experiences of marginalization socially and educationally. The aim of this research was threefold: (a) to provide a theoretical analysis on the marginalization of Black females in society and exercising agency; (b) to explore my own memories and amplify my voice through an autoethnography, highlighting personal lived experiences of oppression in education; and (c) to provide a qualitative analysis on Black women oppression, amplifying the voices of …

The Lies You Tell: Disrupting The Dominant Depiction Of Black Women In Film, Josie L. Andrews, Adam Mcclain

Adult Education Research Conference

Hollywood negatively depicts Black women, often minimizing or ignoring their character’s developmental milestones or self-actualization. Using Black Feminist Thought, an oppositional gaze was used to analyze their development in film.

A Population-Based Assessment Of Severe Maternal Morbidity Among Non-Hispanic Black Women In The United States, Lisa R. Allen

All ETDs from UAB

Non-Hispanic Black women (Black women) are disproportionately affected by adverse maternal health outcomes as compared to women of other races. Little is known about the distribution of adverse maternal health outcomes among Black women. Using the 2014 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), a nationally representative sample of hospital discharges in the United States (U.S.) from January 1 through December 31, 2014, we examined severe maternal morbidity (SMM) experienced during delivery hospitalization among Black women. We conducted population-based, cross-sectional studies to examine the distribution of SMM prevalence; assess within-race …

Changing The Face Of Stem: Review Of Literature On The Role Of Mentors In The Success Of Undergraduate Black Women In Stem Education, Danielle D. Dickens, Valeisha Ellis, Naomi M. Hall

Journal of Research Initiatives

The lack of ethnic and gender diversity in STEM undergraduate programs may lead to diversity and equity issues in STEM careers. However, some research suggests that mentoring influences the career trajectory of Black undergraduate women students in STEM. The investigation into these phenomena highlights suggestions for future research on mentoring Black undergraduate women in STEM. More recently, empirical research on mentoring among Black women have gained some momentum. Furthermore, with the increasing diversity and inclusivity demands from #ShutdownSTEM, in support of the Black Lives Matter movement, there is a focus on correcting barriers to access in STEM. Therefore, this conceptual …

The Impact Of The Advisor-Advisee Relationship Among Black And Latino/A/X Stem Graduate Students At Predominantly White Institutions, Tasia C. Bryson

Dissertations

An advisor is often the most central and powerful person influencing a student’s trajectory through graduate school (Barnes & Austin, 2009). This dissertation consisted of three articles that focused on the impact of the advisor-advisee relationship among Black and Latino/a/x students in STEM graduate programs at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) from the student perspective. Two frameworks were used to analyze data and guide the research: Black Feminist Thought (BFT) and Critical Race Theory (CRT). BFT was used to explore Black women’s experiences at Predominately White institutions as it provides an in-depth understanding of Black women’s perspectives. CRT was used when …

The Experiences Of Black Women Pursuing Advanced Degrees In Stem, Denaja Haygood

Honors Projects

Black women are severely underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. While the underrepresentation of professional Black women in STEM has been well-researched, the pipeline problem of the education of Black women in STEM has been overlooked. The number of Black women pursuing STEM degrees dramatically decreases as the level of education increases. This gap in the literature is problematic, because Black women are still severely underrepresented in STEM-focused advanced degree programs. A small but growing literature indicates that Black women tend to experience frequent forms of discrimination, feelings of isolation and less satisfaction with their graduate programs, …

The Erasure Of Black Women, Tamara D. Anderson, Maya Anderson

#CritEdPol: Journal of Critical Education Policy Studies at Swarthmore College

To what do we owe Black women? Everything. To be Black and female in America means that you are ignored, silenced, and sometimes erased. the very fabric of history would be quite different for all of us without the contributions, tears, blood, and love of Black women. As a result of the intersection of patriarchy and white supremacy, Black women are too often left exhausted, overworked, and left out of the historical narrative. This multi-modal creative work is a call to action to end the erasure of Black women with scholarship, visual art, and poetry.

When Black [Girls’] Lives Really Matter, Angela Patton

Richmond Racial Equity Essays: Individual Essays

The author outlines ways Richmond can support Black women and girls. Her vision of an equitable Richmond is one where we see, hear, and celebrate Black girls. It’s one where we experience Black girl “magic,” and we give them every opportunity and resource to achieve and thrive.

Mothering Through Our Pain: Single Black Mothers’ Narratives, Yolanda E. Surrency

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Black women’s voices and historical contributions have been dismissed, and even excluded, making it difficult for their cultural knowledge to be transmitted to future generations. Black women battle with an unsettled consciousness from subscribing to the normalization of what dominant culture defines as good mothering. This study uses Black feminism to examine single Black mothers who navigate the negative images of the welfare queen and the matriarch. This narrative study uses Black feminism to examine the stories of single, Black mothers and their daughters. The purpose is to investigate Black mothers’ lived experiences to understand their struggles and resistance. Purposeful …

Shades Of Black: Black Collegiate Women And The Impact Of Colorism In Higher Education, Charletta Nickole Wiggins

All ETDs from UAB

Colorism perpetuates the same variables that drive the principles of racism and has led to disparate treatment, lower self-esteem, and negative perceptions within communities of color for decades. Since Black women are considered second class citizens, behind both men and White women, it is vital to acknowledge that their experiences with racism, compounded by colorism, are most salient. The purpose of this qualitative research study is three-fold: (1) to explore colorism as a phenomenon while also investigating its impact on the higher education attainment of Black collegiate women, (2) to give these women a voice regarding their personal experiences with …

Black Women And Identity Development: Educational Experiences Of Black Women And Their Motivation To Persist, Anne Marie Edwards

Graduate Research Theses & Dissertations

This dissertation explores the impact of educational experiences on the identity development of undergraduate Black women attending a predominantly White institution. The dissertation was organized into three chapters. Chapter 1 is a literature review for publication. Chapter 2 is a research study for publication and Chapter 3 is a multi-media project that highlights the narratives of Black women in their own voices. In Chapter 1, I present a literature review that documents published works centering on Black women and identity development. The first purpose of the review of literature is to provide a timeline of research on Black women and …

Illuminating The Voices Of Black Women Principals: A Phenomenological Qualitative Study, Crystal L. Haskins

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

School reform efforts, particularly those that are concerned with equity and social justice have led to an evolution of educational leadership theories and practices. Among these, Culturally Responsive School Leadership and Critical Race Theory have emerged as potential frameworks for dismantling the ghost of neo-managerialism and its impact on Black and Brown students’ academic success (Barton, 1998; MacRuairc, 2012; Terry, 1998). Relatedly, there is a dearth in the literature regarding the experiences of Black Women Principals; their lives, leadership styles, and accomplishments are not consistently recognized as valued contributions to educational research (Ladson-Billings, 2002). The purpose of this phenomenological study …

A Case Study On Alternative Spring Break: Supporting Black Women At An Hbcu, Aeryel Williams

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a college-based travel program in which students spend their traditional spring break vacation traveling to a new domestic or international city to complete a service-learning project such as community restoration in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. As a result of participating in Alternative Spring Break, students gain invaluable experiences and transferable skills that can be applied to their academic and career goals. In this dissertation, the specific transferable skill explored is emotional intelligence.

The purpose of this dissertation is to illuminate the lived experiences of Black women who have participated in a college-based travel program …

Black Women And The Struggle For Education As The Practice Of Freedom: Embodying An Ethic And Pedagogy Of Liberation, Camilla J. Bell

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation explores the ways in which Black women across the Syracuse community embody an ethic and pedagogy of liberation for Black youth and their families within and beyond the school setting. The purpose is to understand in more nuanced ways Black women’s activation of their own lived experiences to dismantle systems of oppression and realize education as the practice of freedom for Black youth. Informed by Black feminist and womanist theories, this study employs narrative analysis, and sister circles—two methods which testify to the power of Black women’s her-stories and its impact on Black youth and their families. Knitting …

College, At What Cost? African American/Black Women Undergraduate Students’ Perception Of Institutional Policy Levers, Tamara D. White

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This study is exploring how institutional policy levers impact retention for African American/Black women undergraduate students at a private four-year predominantly white institution in a mid-western state of the United States. Retention of African American/Black women undergraduate students is not a widely researched area. In this exploratory case study, eight African American/Black undergraduate junior and senior women, ten administrators and one focus group of six African American/Black women were interviewed. Artifacts were collected from the administrators. The data collected was analyzed using the culturally engaging campus environment model. The experiences of the African American/Black undergraduate women were examined in academic …

Black Female Graduate Students' Experiences Of Racial Microaggressions At A Southern University, Kendra Elizabeth Shoge

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have found that microaggressions can cause psychological distress, frustration, avoidance, confusion, resentment, hopelessness, and fear. Previous studies from Southern universities have addressed the adjustment experiences of Black women in graduate programs, obstacles faced by Black women in higher education and strategies to overcome those obstacles, and factors associated with Black student motivation and achievement. Discrimination and racism are factors identified in those studies, however, there is little research on the experiences of Black women in graduate programs and the impact of racial microaggressions on them.

The purpose of this study was to examine Black female graduate students’ experiences of …

Preface To Intersectionality & Higher Education: Theory, Research, & Praxis, Donald Mitchell Jr., Ph.D.

Executives, Administrators, & Staff Publications

Intersectionality is a term coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw in 1989. Crenshaw, a scholar of law, critical race theory, and Black feminist legal theory, used intersectionality to explain the experiences of Black women who―because of the intersection race, gender, and class―are exposed to exponential and interlocking forms of marginalization and oppression often rendering them invisible.

So, You Want To Attract And Retain Diverse Faculty???: An Autoethnography, Melva R. Grant

Teaching & Learning Faculty Publications

This is an autoethnography about epistemic injustice (i.e., diminished credibility as a knower) and resilience of an intersectional tenured faculty member who transformed harm into opportunities for rebuilding intellectual confidence and for exercising intellectual courage. Personal stories are used to examine and make explicit epistemic injustice harms by situating them within everyday contexts (Glesne, 2006). The purpose of this essay was to introduce theoretical perspectives with different language for improving discourses about an old challenge, racial bias, and to make explicit the types of harms experienced. Important research questions are posed for consideration by researchers. The stories shared in this …

Lemons Into Lemonade: Black Undergraduate Women's Embodiment Of Strength And Resilience At A Pwi, Jordan Shelby West

Dissertations - ALL

This dissertation is a qualitative research project for Black undergraduate women and about Black undergraduate women. The aim of this dissertation is to lift, center, and share the lived experiences of Black undergraduate women as they reflect on the messages and memories of coming into their Blackness, their transition to and experiences while attending a PWI, and the ways in which they continue to make meaning of space. Informed by Black Feminist Theory and Critical Race Theory, the framework and methods used in this project prioritize the care of the participants and allow them to be co-creators of their own …

Beware! Black Educated Women Receiving Access, Resources, And Emotional Intelligence, Kitana Holland

All Zyzzogeton Presentations

Despite having great success in higher education, most studies of Black female students only focus on exploring the success of Black women and generalize the experience of all Black women. These studies have failed to explore social class, environmental factors, sexual orientation, mental health, and other contributing factors that can play a role in successful completion of education. A review of relevant literature on emotional intelligence and its emphasis on the importance of self-efficacy, motivation, a supportive environment, a focus on identity and goal setting will enhance academic adjustment among Black women. This research argues that by developing emotional intelligence, …