How Black Women Administrators Navigate the Intersection of Race
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Louisiana State University LSU Digital Commons LSU Doctoral Dissertations Graduate School 2016 Black Girl Magic: How Black Women Administrators Navigate the Intersection of Race and Gender in Workspace Silos at Predominantly White Institutions Allison Michelle Smith Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations Part of the Education Commons Recommended Citation Smith, Allison Michelle, "Black Girl Magic: How Black Women Administrators Navigate the Intersection of Race and Gender in Workspace Silos at Predominantly White Institutions" (2016). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 3470. https://digitalcommons.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/3470 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at LSU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in LSU Doctoral Dissertations by an authorized graduate school editor of LSU Digital Commons. For more information, please [email protected]. BLACK GIRL MAGIC: HOW BLACK WOMEN ADMINISTRATORS NAVIGATE THE INTERSECTION OF RACE AND GENDER IN WORKSPACE SILOS AT PREDOMINANTLY WHITE INSTITUTIONS A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in The School of Education by Allison M. Smith B.S., Southern University, 2009 M.P.A., Louisiana State University, 2011 August 2016 I dedicate my dissertation to family who has always believed in me since “day one.” Thank you all for supporting me in the best way you knew how down a path you’ve never traveled. To my nieces and nephews: I cannot wait to see what the future holds for each of you. I love you all … and yes, I’m finally out of school. ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS God, your faithfulness has never failed me and your awesomeness never ceases to amaze me. It is through You alone that I have been able to complete this part of my life’s journey. Your love, expressed to me in so many ways through family, friends, and colleagues is the sustaining force that pushes me forward when fatigue sets in and for that, I am forever grateful. To my dissertation committee: Dr. MacGregor, thank you for always teaching in such a way that allowed me to explore new possibilities and then encouraging my creative thinking approach to critical issues. Dr. Mitchell, I am forever grateful for the ways you have encouraged and empowered me to challenge the status quo, wherever I am with whatever I have. Thank you for highlighting the importance of self-discovery and definition on this journey. And lastly, although certainly not least: my committee chair, Dr. Danielle Alsandor. I do not know if enough words will ever exist to explain what you have done for me and what your professional friendship has meant over these last four years. I am not sure if I would have completed this program without your loving, yet stern guidance and support. I am not sure when the institution will realize what a gem they have let slip through their hands. You are amazing, compassionate, insightful, and truly the embodiment of #BlackGirlMagic. To Big Mama, Khadijah, Joan, Moesha, Claire, Maxine, Cookie, and Mary Jane: thank you. Thank you for trusting me with your stories filled with moments of vulnerability and hope. I hope that I have shared your stories in a way that makes you proud and helps others to understand your plight. Please know that none of this could be possible without your openness, honesty and transparency. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. For the people who made this program a “home” for me, I am eternally grateful for your love, support, and laughter along this journey. Aariel, Abbey, Amaris, Brandi, David, D’Jalon, iii Kourtney, and Vincent: you have all played an integral part in my journey and I could not thank you enough. I cannot wait to see what footprint you all leave on the world of higher education. And for my other source of strength on campus, the Black women administrators who show up day in and day out, slaying the odds in the face of adversity I am forever in awe of your #BlackGirlMagic. To the amazing EDCO unit (Dr. Katrice Albert, Marco, Chaunda, Brandon, Cerise, Niya, LaKeitha, Bret, Summer, Tarchia, Jared): know that I am forever grateful for the support and encouragement to start this PhD journey. Clay, Kim, Reshonda, Tie, Marla, Ash G., my TQ, Winter, Ash B.: Thank you for giving me space to grow into the woman I’ve become and always cheering me on, even when you had no clue what I was talking about. I love you ladies and I’m blessed to know you. Shonneka, Bemmer, Jason, Justin, TK, Kendrick, Trenykia, Fiona, Brittany, KD, and Tia: you showed me what community was as I began this journey in fear and I appreciate you all more than you’ll ever know. Now Courtney … where do I begin? Outside of my family, you probably know more than anyone of what this journey has required of me. I will never forget you driving us to see Prince at EssenceFest 2014 while I occupied the front passenger seat … with my eyes glued to a laptop finishing up a project. You fussed at me so much when we finally got back… thank you for helping me realize that my joy is just as valuable as that which I was looking to support in others. Nicki Chyvonne … sister, you have been an amazing cheerleader throughout this journey … and all of my mood swings. I will always appreciate the nights you fixed me dinner or simply turned the light off when I fell asleep in a pile of articles. “Thank you” will never be enough. Mama and Daddy: I’ve finished my “report” and “passed my test.” Your baby girl is a doctor now. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ............................................................................................................. iii ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................... ix CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION TO THE RESEARCH .............................................................. 1 Statement of the Problem ............................................................................................................ 2 Research Questions ..................................................................................................................... 3 Brief History of Black Women in Higher Education ................................................................. 4 Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) as a Necessity ............................... 5 HBCU or PWI? ..................................................................................................................... 7 Current Status of Black Women in Higher Education ................................................................ 8 Considered Theoretical Frameworks .......................................................................................... 9 Origins of Feminism ............................................................................................................ 10 Traditional Feminist Approaches ......................................................................................... 10 Womanism/Womanist Theory ............................................................................................. 12 Critical Race Theory ............................................................................................................ 12 Critical Social Theory .......................................................................................................... 13 Summary ................................................................................................................................... 13 Black Feminist Thought ............................................................................................................ 14 Inerpretive Lens: Intersectionality ....................................................................................... 15 Summary .............................................................................................................................. 17 Concluding Thoughts ................................................................................................................ 17 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW ...................................................................................... 19 Intersectional Discrimination .................................................................................................... 19 Microaggressions ................................................................................................................. 22 Racial Battle Fatigue ............................................................................................................ 24 Sexism .................................................................................................................................. 25 Tokenism and Hyper/Hypovisibility ................................................................................... 26 Reconceptualized Model of Multiple Dimensions of Identity (MMDI) .............................. 28 Differential Consciousness .................................................................................................. 29 Lewin’s Equation ................................................................................................................. 30 Social Capital ......................................................................................................................