Belonging to Me: A Blackgirl Autoethnography (Poster 19)

• In Event: Saturday Poster Session 3:05 pm
  In Poster Session: Learning and Motivation in Social and Cultural Contexts 3

Abstract

Educational Psychology has failed to consider the consequences for Black students when educators encourage and advocate for them to attain a sense of belonging to oppressive institutions. This study employs an autoethnographic method (Boylorn, 2016) to understand what it means for a Black woman to attain a sense of belonging while pursuing a doctoral degree in the field of Educational Psychology. The need for external validation was evidenced to contribute to feelings of inadequacy, deficiency, and self-doubt, often manifesting as depression and anxiety. The findings demonstrate how autoethnographic methods can help to enhance our understanding of how belonging manifests differently within historically marginalized groups.

Author

• Taylor Cummings, University of Nevada - Las Vegas