Bridging Power and Oppression: How White Women Administrators Facilitate Inclusion

• In Event: Social Justice Leadership as a Necessary Component to Public Education

Abstract

With the recent media storm around racialized events across the United States, there is a national conversation brewing about systemic oppression, power, and privilege, which leaves many higher education administrators perplexed about how to address such issues on their campuses. Just as institutions of higher education seek to prepare students for a diverse workforce, these institutions must seek to establish a more inclusive community in the midst of social injustice. Utilizing a focus group approach, and through the lens of social capital theory, we explored how White women administrators can be called upon to facilitate inclusion on college campuses. We found these women’s ability to identify areas of systemic bias helped them advocate on the behalf of diverse student populations.

Author

• Tenisha Tevis, Oregon State University