Shedding Light, Activating Voice, and Building Community: Experiences of African American Women in Educational Leadership

• In Event: 30.069 - Women and Educational Leadership

Abstract

While African American women in leadership are often considered to experience a ‘double jeopardy’ of discrimination, due to gender and racial bias (Reed, 2012) there has been little examination of how these intersecting identities play out in educational leadership. This study examined the experiences of 10 African American female principals and specifically how they perceived their race and gender impacted their and others’ perceptions/behaviors regarding their leadership abilities and efficacy. Findings revealed some similar biases white women in educational leadership have experienced, yet also presented perceived differences in the way participants were treated. For example, participants identified benefits to their identity, including a shared mission with black female colleagues and deep affiliation with the minority students and families they served.

Authors

• Jennie Weiner, University of Connecticut

• Laura Burton, University of Connecticut - Storrs