Exploring the Intersection: To Be Black, a Woman and a Leader

• In Event: Reimagining Leadership Learning Experiences for Black College Women

Short Description

The researchers will explore the intersection of leadership and identity development for Black women leaders in the southern United States. We will share the narratives of the women and their leadership identities as well as the strategies used to navigate their leadership positions.

Detailed Abstract

Over the past 40 years, there has been an increase in literature related to women and leadership (Jean-Marie, Williams, & Sherman, 2009). Research has highlighted the challenges and barriers women face when trying to reach the same heights as their male peers. Terms such as “glass cliff” (Ryan & Haslam, 2005), “glass ceiling” (Morrison et al., 1987), “concrete wall” (Bell & Nkomo, 1992) and “labyrinth” (Eagly & Carli, 2007) aim to articulate the experiences women encounter in their attempts to attain leadership roles, and what they may undergo once positions are obtained. However, these concepts do not adequately express what women of color go through during their leadership journeys.

Sanchez-Hucles and Davis (2010) stated this situation well, “a woman [of color] who feels that she is experiencing discrimination must decide if this prejudice is due to race, ethnicity, gender, or some other dimension of her identity,” (p. 173). Several studies have been conducted to investigate the experiences of Black women and leadership (Jean-Marie, Williams, & Sherman, 2009). However, many of these studies examine leadership from a positional perspective and in the context of a specific discipline. Few studies approach the topic from an interdisciplinary angle, considering leadership theory, philosophy, and methodology. Ngunjiri, Almquist, Beebe, Elbert, Gardiner and Shockness (2017) stated that the existing literature on women does not sufficiently elaborate and interrogate the impacts of women’s various identities and their approaches to and leadership experiences. Horsford (2012) articulated that due to the convergence of their identities, Black women serve “as a bridge for others, to others, and between others in oppressive and discriminatory contexts over time,” (p. 17). However, in spite of this outlook, Black women are in various leadership positions in many facets of society. How did they become leaders of today?

The purpose of this study was to capture narratives of Black women leaders as it relates to leadership, identity and inclusion. Consequently, this phenomenon yields significant opportunities for further research.

This is an exploratory study looking at the intersect of race and gender as it relates to leadership aspirations and attainment.

This is a qualitative study that will utilize a phenomenological method as the researchers are seeking to explore lived experience. The frameworks used in this study are critical race theory (CRT) and Black feminist theory.
Participants will be contacted via email to participate in a face-to-face interview. This study will use a convenience sample. Participants will be selected who are known community leaders in the Big South, Southern State. The snowball technique will also be used, as participants will be able to refer additional subjects to the study. The study aligns with Lincoln and Guba’s (1985) guidelines for naturalistic inquiry. The data will be analyzed using Saldana’s (2016) coding process.

It is anticipated that the outcome of this study will provide data that highlights the nuances to obtaining leadership roles and serving in them that are unique to Black women. This is important to leadership curriculum developers as the voices/experiences of Black women should be taken into consideration when designing programs.

More research needs to be conducted to explore the intersect of leadership and various identities. This study seeks to add to the body of literature that explores the intersect of leadership, race, and gender, specifically for Black women. Though the results from this qualitative study will not be able to be widely generalized, it is anticipated that the researchers will identify themes from the data from which further research should be conducted.

Participants

• Sakina Dixon, Texas A&M University
  Presenter

• Chanda D. Elbert, Texas A&M University
  Presenter