Salient, Not Silent: Middle Eastern Female Doctoral Students' Motivation and Preparation for Educational Leadership Careers

• In Event: 51.079 - MTCC Roundtable Session 22
  In Roundtable Session: 51.079-4 - Middle Eastern and Muslim Student Experiences in Intercultural Contexts

Abstract

Research is needed to explore what motivates women of color to assume positions of educational leadership, in male and mainstream-dominated academic and professional spaces. Using critical race feminism as a theoretical lens, the experiences of five female doctoral students of color preparing for careers in educational leadership were explored. Specifically, the experiences of two Middle Eastern women were emphasized in this paper. The findings reveal motivations related to personal background, gender, and social justice issues, well as multiple instances of discrimination and microagressions in the professional and personal lives of the participants. The field has much to gain from the voices of women of color preparing for positions of educational leadership as administrators and faculty in K-12 and higher education.

Author

• Keisha Baylor, Public School District