Faculty Women of Color Post-Gratz and -Grutter: The Critical Nexus of Race and Gender

• In Event: Multicultural/Multiethnic Education SIG: Contemporary Topics in Postsecondary Education

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences of faculty women of color at predominately white public research extensive universities in the wake of legal challenges to affirmative action. This study’s central questions were, What are the lived experiences of faculty women of color in predominately white institutions?, and What are the implications of legal challenges to affirmative action, such as Gratz and Grutter, for faculty women of color and their institutions? Twelve 90-minute focus groups were conducted with 51 faculty women of color from a wide range of academic fields/disciplines, from all regions of the U.S., and occupying tenured/tenure track ranks (assistant, associate, and full professors). Critical Race Theory (CRT) and Critical Race Feminism (CRF) serve as frameworks to guide analysis.

Authors

• Caroline Sotello Viernes Turner, California State University - Sacramento

• Juan Carlos Gonzalez, California State University - Fresno

• Kathleen Wong (Lau), Western Michigan University