AN ABTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION OF Susan Diane Turner for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Education presented on September 25, 2009. Title: Exploring Resilience in the Lives of Women Leaders in Early Childhood Health, Human Services, and Education Abstract approved: LeoNora Cohen Women leaders in early childhood health, human services, and education face tremendous challenges in their efforts to cultivate resilience amidst a myriad of risk factors including incessant stress, low wages, and limited professional support. Women who foster mental health in young children and high-risk families are vulnerable to secondary traumatic stress. The purpose of this feminist phenomenological study was to understand the resilience process with women leaders in Early Childhood. No studies were found that centered on resilience with this interdisciplinary profession. Research was guided by principles of feminist standpoint, relational-cultural, and resiliency theories. Twenty women alumnae of a leadership development program sponsored by a university in a western state were interviewed twice to learn about professional and personal aspects. The findings indicate alarming levels of professional stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. Sixty-five percent of the women experienced acute and chronic professional stress resulting in significant health issues. Fifty-five percent are at risk for burnout and secondary traumatic stress due to limited resources, lack of effective supervision and organizational leadership, and escalating needs of high-risk children and families. Women also described significant personal stress including 65% from childhood traumas, 45% from adulthood adversities, and 80% from parenting children including 65% who have children with special needs. All of the women have experienced discrimination: 85% reported sexism and 53% reported sexual harassment. All of the women of color and one of the women in a biracial marriage have experienced racism. Seventy-five percent of younger women have experienced ageism. Women employed a myriad of strategies to cultivate resilience first through supportive relationships, then resource finding, spiritual and cultural beliefs, self-care, and education. The women fostered an array of resilient qualities and skills including strategic problem solving, assertive boundary setting, positive outlook, and self-reliance. Women leaders persevere motivated by their altruistic purpose to make a difference in the lives of children, families, and communities. The study concludes by discussing recommended changes within all levels of an ecological system to foster resilience with women leaders in Early Childhood. Suggestions for additional research are outlined to explore the resilient reintegration process with this interdisciplinary profession. © Copyright by Susan Diane Turner September 25, 2009 All Rights Reserved Exploring Resilience in the Lives of Women Leaders in Early Childhood Health, Human Services, and Education by Susan Diane Turner A DISSERTATION submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Presented September 25, 2009 Commencement June 2010 Doctor of Philosophy dissertation of Susan Diane Turner presented on September 25, 2009. APPROVED: Major Professor, representing Education Dean of the College of Education Dean of the Graduate School I understand that my dissertation will become part of the permanent collection of Oregon State University libraries. My signature below authorizes release of my dissertation to any reader upon request. Susan Diane Turner, Author ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This dissertation represents a collaborative endeavor made possible by the candid, valuable contributions of the women participants and the support received from mentors, colleagues, and friends. The author expresses sincere appreciation first and foremost to the twenty wonderful women who courageously shared their stories of resilience and trusted me to be a worthy caretaker. Thank you for sharing your life experiences. The author offers heartfelt gratitude to my exceptional major professor, LeoNora Cohen who so generously and continually extended support, guidance, feedback, and encouragement. The author also expresses earnest appreciation to my fantastic doctoral minor in Women Studies professor, Susan M. Shaw, and my exceptional committee members, Janet Lee, Ken Winograd, Becky Warner, and a special thanks to Patti Watkins for your willingness to join my committee as the dissertation neared. The author offers muchas gracias to Guadalupé Diaz for her valuable contribution en Español to this research project. The author also expresses appreciation to Sharon Rosenkoetter, my colleague in fostering leadership development with women in early childhood health, human services, and education and to all of our program alumnae. The author conveys a wealth of gratitude and a heartfelt hug to my support team: Saren, David, and Matthew; to my buddies Roberta and John; and to my dear friends and adopted family, Deb, Vince, Eli, DiDi, Jason, and Jackie. Finally, the author extends loving gratefulness to my dear mom who has shared multitudes of stories of resilience remarkably cultivated by my beloved kin especially memaw. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Chapter 1: Introduction ……………………………………. 1 Problem Statement ……………………………….... 2 Purpose of Study …………………………………... 5 Theoretical Perspectives …………………………… 8 Personal Perspectives ……………………………… 12 Professional Qualifications ……………………….. 14 Feminist Ecological Model ………………………… 15 Conclusion …………………………………………. 19 Chapter 2: Literature Review ……………………………… 20 Search Process …………………………………….. 21 Resiliency Theory …………………………………. 22 Women’s Development and Resilience …………… 25 Relational-Cultural Theory ………………………… 35 Empirical Research ………………………………… 38 Research Approaches ……………………………… 39 Research on Children ……………………………… 41 Women Survivors of Childhood Abuse …………… 44 What Difference Does Difference Make? Impacts of Gender, Race, Ethnicity, Class, Sexual Identity, Looks, and Age ……………………………………. 48 Women and Work …………………………………. 58 Women and Caregiving ……………………………. 59 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page Women Leaders ……………………………………. 60 Women in Health, Human Services, and Education . 72 Conclusion …………………………………………. 80 Chapter 3: Research Methods ……………………………… 88 Problem, Purpose, and Rationale ………………….. 88 Research Perspectives ……………………………... 92 Research Participants ……………………………… 93 Methods of Data Collection ……………………….. 94 Data Analysis ……………………………………… 99 Feminist Research Principles and Ethics ………….. 100 Research Plan ……………………………………… 102 Conclusion …………………………………………. 103 Chapter 4: Results of Professional Perspectives ………….. 104 Professional Demographics ……………………….. 104 Professional Interviews ……………………………. 106 Conclusion …………………………………………. 145 Chapter 5: Results of Personal Perspectives ………………. 146 Personal Demographics ……………………………. 146 Personal Interviews ………………………………… 147 Conclusion …………………………………………. 193 TABLE OF CONTENTS (Continued) Page Chapter 6: Discussion ……………………………………… 194 Return to the Problem ……………………………… 194 Review of the Methodology ……………………….. 194 Discussion of the Results ………………………….. 195 Conclusion …………………………………………. 222 Chapter 7: Conclusion ……………………………………… 223 Importance of Findings …………………………….. 223 Relationship of Findings to Theoretical Literature … 228 Recommendations and Implications ……………….. 231 Suggestions for Additional Research ……………… 234 Closing Reflections………………………………… 235 Bibliography ……………………………………………… 238 Appendices ………………………………………………… 251 Appendix A: IRB Initial Research Proposal ………. 251 Appendix B: IRB Project Revision en Español ……. 260 LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Research Plan ……………………………………… 102 2. Professional Demographics ……………………….. 104 3. Personal Demographics …………………………… 146 DEDICATION This dissertation is dedicated to the twenty wise, wonderful women who shared their remarkable stories of resilience in tribute to their courage, grit, and grace. Exploring Resilience in the Lives of Women Leaders in Early Childhood Health, Human Services, and Education Chapter 1: Introduction “I am strong. I am invincible. I am woman.” ~ Helen Reddy Kat who just turned thirty struggles to cope with stress, depression, and anxiety from working with children and families living with mental illness, addictions, violence, and poverty. Day after day, she listens to families’ stories of struggle and desperation as she gathers their histories of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse. Without a supportive supervisor to help her process, she battles secondary trauma, compassion fatigue, and burnout. Kat takes a deep breath and connects with her compassion and idealism as she shakes off the trauma when her workday is done. Carmen, a middle aged woman who oversees early childhood education and support services for at-risk families worries about her agency’s long waiting list. Families in her community have experienced escalating risk factors in recent years including substance abuse, family violence, and poverty. In a recent year, five young children died as a result of neglect and abuse in her community. Incidences of abuse are increasing at alarming rates. Carmen battles insomnia fearful she will awake to read another tragic headline while her agency struggles to meet skyrocketing family needs. She perseveres strengthened by her purpose, knowing this is where she is meant to be. Red, who just celebrated her 60th birthday is an aspiring elder of her Native American community. For twenty years, she has labored