Guided by a Goddess, Not Managed by a Maid: Strategies for Black Women Leaders in Navigating Misogynoir and Achieving Success

• In Event: Unapologetically Leading: Black Women Shaping the Future of Education

Abstract

In an academic landscape where Black women deans face the unique challenge of misogynoir—the specific anti-Black racism and sexism directed at them—this presentation explores how they can transcend limiting stereotypes and achieve leadership success. Moving beyond the "mammy" and "strong Black woman" tropes that confine Black women to roles of servitude or hostility, Black women deans can instead reframe our leadership through empowering lens of spirituality, harmony, and autonomy. I discuss actionable strategies, including building intentional support networks, leveraging intersectional identity as a source of strength, and employing specific communication tactics to neutralize biased claims. I imagine how Black women leaders can dismantle internal and external pressures of misogynoir and guide their careers with purpose and power. In so doing, we reclaim our narratives, set professional boundaries that protect our well-being, and mentor the next generation of scholars.

Author

• Tambra O. Jackson, Indiana University - Indianapolis