The Personal and Emotional Costs of Black Male Teacher Empathy: A Case Study

• In Event: AERA Poster Session Saturday 9:45 am
  In Poster Session: Learning Together: Collaboration, Teaching Strategies, and Identity in Classroom and Community Contexts

Abstract

Teacher empathy is associated with personal and emotional costs that may lead to physical and emotional exhaustion. Issues of race may exacerbate the adverse effects of teacher empathy. For example, Black male teachers may face heightened empathy-related costs as they navigate multiple roles. Interested in the hidden costs of teacher empathy for Black male teachers, we conducted an exploratory case study of a Black male teacher to examine the social and contextual factors that underpin his experiences with teacher empathy, using the Dynamic Systems Model of Role Identity framework. Findings suggested that teacher empathy experienced by a Black male teacher may include personal and emotional costs. We conclude with a discussion of the practical and theoretical implications.

Authors

• Joseph Eisman, Purdue University

• Kendra Yvonne Hall, Old Dominion University