Lifting as We Climb: Messages Influencing African American Women’s Postgraduate Degree Attainment

• In Event: Race, Class, and Gender Issues in Higher Education

Abstract

This study seeks to explore what messages influenced African American women's educational attainment, trajectory into and completion of Doctoral and/or Professional degree programs. For the purpose of this study:(a) messages are defined as tacit and explicit communications,(b) Doctoral degree is defined as the conferment of a Ph.D. or Ed.D.,(c) Professional degree is defined as the awarding of a M.D., D.D.S., and/or J.D. degree; and (d) educational attainment is defined as the conferment of a Doctoral and/or Professional degree. Utilizing qualitative methods, the purpose of this study is to glean a contextual understanding of the messages influencing African American women’s Doctoral and Professional degree attainment.

Authors

• ReShanta Hazelbaker, University of Kentucky

• Beth L. Goldstein, University of Kentucky

• Kenneth Maurice Tyler, University of Kentucky