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The Racialized Experiences of Multiracial Women Students

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The Racialized Experiences of Multiracial Women Students “INTRINSICALLY INTERESTING”: THE RACIALIZED EXPERIENCES OF MULTIRACIAL WOMEN STUDENTS AT A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTION Jessica C. Harris Submitted to the faculty of the University Graduate School in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in the School of Education, Indiana University April 2015 Accepted by the Graduate Faculty, Indiana University, in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. Doctoral Committee _______________________________________ Lori Patton Davis, Ph.D. Chairperson _______________________________________ Lucy LePeau, Ph.D. _______________________________________ James Scheurich, Ph.D. _______________________________________ Margaret Sutton, Ph.D. September 30th, 2014 ii ! Copyright © 2015 Jessica C. Harris iii ! To multiracial women. To scholars, practitioners, organizations, individuals, and institutions that actively work toward the dismantling of racist, sexist, and other oppressive systems that impact the realities of women of color. iv ! ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To Mom and Dad. Thank you for your unconditional love, unending support, and listening ears. You are the two most constant, important things in my world. To Aunty Gwen. Thank you for fanning the fires in my mind. For making me feel empowered and capable. I hope to someday emulate the amazing woman that you are. To Dr. Lori Patton Davis. I seem to be at a loss of words to express my gratitude, respect, and admiration for you. There are many things that you have said, and even more that you have done, that led me to become a better person, both professionally and personally. You’ve allowed me to chart my own course while gently guiding me along this sometimes-tricky terrain. Lori, I am so blessed to have you as a chair, mentor, advisor, and role model. To my dissertation committee members, Dr. Lucy LePeau, Dr. Jim Scheurich, and Dr. Peg Sutton. Thank you for your guidance, wisdom, and support throughout this process. Your thoughtful feedback and engagement have made this journey even more delightful and have strengthened my dissertation significantly. To the 10 multiracial women participants in this study. Thank you for being so open and vulnerable throughout this process. Your narratives have changed me and I have no doubt that they will impact others. Collaborating with you has made this process completely painless and utterly enjoyable. To Dr. Kim Griffin. Without your presence in my life, I know I would not be where I am today. Kim, you believed in me before I ever believed in myself. When my confidence falters, you are there to lend me some of the immense amounts of confidence v ! you have in me. You are such an amazing mentor, role model, and friend. I can’t wait to continue our professional and personal relationship for years to come. To Dr. Jessica Nina Lester. I could never thank you enough. You have been one of the greatest blessings I have received while at IU. Your willingness to help, mentor, and provide feedback has made this dissertation process exciting, enlightening, and fun! I hope to someday be the resource for students that you were for me. Thank you. To Dr. Chayla “Patricia Pats Patty Cakes” Haynes. Jesus took the wheel when he placed you in my life. Pats, without you, there is no way that I would have made it to where I stand today. Thank you for teaching me about love, life, and laughter. You are the (older and wiser) sister I never knew I was missing. To the original cohort, Carrie, Dennis, Ryan, Samantha, and Stevie, thank you for that first year. That short time showed me how doctoral cohorts can and should be supportive sources of strength and success. You continue to motivate me in life and learning. To Samantha Ivery. You have become my family through this process. Thank you for providing balance in my life. For teaching me, through example, about generosity, kindness, and patience. For listening to my diatribes, whether they were ratchet rants or intellectual musings. To. Dr. Ryan Barone. I am so blessed to have you in my life. Thank you for pushing me intellectually and supporting me emotionally. Ryan, your feedback helped me immensely throughout this process. Thank you for making time for me and for validating my realities. vi ! To Autumn Harrell. Thank you for loving my imperfections, for your encouragement, and for providing a loving space in which I could be vulnerable. You motivate, guide, and support me in all of my goals, especially in becoming a better person. Girl, I love you and am so blessed to have you as a friend and colleague. To Jasmine Haywood, my scholar sister. You’ve provided insight, support, and a shoulder to cry on/an ear to vent to. I’m excited to enter the professoriate with you. Your authenticity and ability to talk the talk and walk the walk incites and inspires me. To Tomas, Eddie, and Cameron, brothers in the academy who have supported me throughout this journey. To Tomas Boatwright. Tommy, you’re my heart. Thank you for providing unconditional love, wisdom, solace, and so much more. Just knowing you are only a video chat away provides me with worlds of comfort. Our relationship, and conversations, have guided me to be a better version of myself. Dr. Eddie Cole, thank you for your calm nature, willingness to help, and wisdom. I am excited to continue a personal and professional relationship with you. To Cameron “Cousin” Harris. Thank you for the laughter, perspective, and kindness. I’m blessed to call you family. To Dr. Allison BrckaLorenz and Dr. Tom Nelson Laird. Working with the two of you through FSSE-G and otherwise was possibly one of the best experiences I had while at IU. Allison and Tom, the way you show up personally and professionally is so admirable, and I am blessed to have you two as role models and mentors. I don’t think you’ll ever know how much your presence in my life has meant. vii ! To Katie “Tooch” Martucci. Thank you for believing in me before I ever had the strength to believe in myself. You have always seen the best in me and I strive to become that woman that you see. Thank you for being my mirror. To Julia Meek, Darlessa Doss, Audra Schutte, and the entire Bloomington CrossFit Crew (Sam, Culley, Cathal, Mike, Laura, Maggie, Leah). Your presence in my life was crucial in maintaining balance and happiness the last few years. You consistently reminded me that the academy is not my life and that laughter is the best form of medicine. Thank you for reminding me to simplify and embrace this life. To Dr. Becky Martinez. I’d like to think that this journey all started because of you. I applied to M.Ed programs wanting to follow in your footsteps. However, the journey took me down my own path, which allowed me to become more of who I was meant to be. I remain guided by your love, passion, and dedication to social justice. To Dr. Karina “Corona” Viaud. Thank you for not kicking my butt when I built up walls and refused to let you in. Thank you for being patient, for mentoring me, for guiding me, and for being my friend. You’ve taught me so much through your words and actions. I respect you immensely and continue to look to you for guidance. To Eve “EVOO” Durand, thank you for the phone calls, listening ear, and much- needed reality checks. To Viviana Gordon and Jaimy Stoll. Thank you for visiting Bloomington, for reminding me how much I am loved and how much I am capable of loving. Oh, and for “repurposing.” To Robin Hamilton. For being my “multiracial sounding board” and helping me, simply with being present and responsive, throughout this process. To Stephanie Osimiri, Kieran McCulloch, Jessie Purcell, and so many other viii ! amazing women I call friends and sisters. Thank you for validating my realities in a world that continually invalidates them. I hold so much gratitude and love for you. I read a quote recently that said something to the effect of, “You are the average of the people you surround yourself with.” Well, with y’all in my life, I’d say I’m soaring high above the average. Finally, I extend many thanks to the NASPA Multiracial Knowledge Community and the IU Holmstedt Dissertation Year Award for helping fund this research.! ix ! Jessica C. Harris “INTRINSICALLY INTERESTING”: THE RACIALIZED EXPERIENCES OF MULTIRACIAL WOMEN STUDENTS AT A PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTION The purpose of this research was to explore the racialized experiences of 10 multiracial women undergraduate students at a predominantly White institution (PWI) located in the midwestern United States. This study focused on how multiracial women experienced and responded to their encounters with race on campus. Additionally, the intersections of race and gender in the lives of multiracial women students were examined. The study also explored the ways in which the institutional context impacted multiracial women students’ experiences with race. Critical race theory (CRT) and critical race feminism (CRF) were used as the analytical tools in this research and allowed for a focus on the intersections of race and gender in the lives of 10 multiracial women undergraduate students. These theoretical frameworks guided the decision to use critical qualitative inquiry and narrative inquiry to investigate the racialized experiences of the multiracial women student participants. Three qualitative interviews were conducted with each of the 10 women and made up the crux of the data collection process. The first and third interviews were more “traditional” and took place sitting down in an office on the Midwestern University (MU) campus. The walking method was utilized for the second interview.
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