Smart Black Girls: An Exploration of the Intersections of Race, Gender, Class, and Academic Sense of Self Among Black Women at a Selective University

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

Abstract

While numerous studies explore the experiences of Black students in higher education, most describe “Black students” as a monolithic group, not explicitly taking into consideration how the various social identities of students, such as their socioeconomic status, gender, and academic ability intersect to shape collegiate experiences within this context. To that end, this study sought to extend our understanding of the within-group differences of African American students by exploring the academic and social experiences of African American, first generation college women at a private, highly selective, predominantly White university.

Author

• Jennifer Michelle Johnson, Bowie State University