Double Consciousness

Improved Essays
Show More
Research Problem
The doctorate of philosophy (PhD) is one of the highest levels of education that can be attained in the United States of America (CITE). The scholars that hold this degree are a unique group of individuals who have not only mastered their field of study, but have the ability to become a voice in academia and society through research, instruction, and publication. Scholars who have this level of education are prone to have higher qualities of living, economic stability, and socioeconomic status (Yosso, 2005). However, for African American females (AAF) attending a pre-dominantly white university, attaining a terminal degree holds unique hardships due to racial microaggressions and stereotypes. This study will delve into the …show more content…
AAF’s carry the weight of being a double minority and holding a double consciousness in academia by being African American and women (Collins, 2001). The double consciousness has a strong effect on the AAF’s perception of how they view themselves, the decisions they make, and how they view society in general (Collins, 2001). Researcher’s Carter, Pearson and Shavlik (1988) not only acknowledge the effect the “double consciousness” has on the AAF in society, but also present the notion of racism and stereotyping as the key reasons AAF have such difficulty maintaining doctoral candidacy in predominately white institutions. Carter, Pearson and Shavlik (1998) argue that “historically, black women have been the most isolated, underused, and consequently demoralized segments of the academic community” (p. …show more content…
The daily struggle of overcoming the stigmas, assumptions and stereotypes that are placed upon each racial group is a never ending task. However, African American females (AAF) face distinct issues on the road to educational success. This literature review will define racism, racial microaggressions and racial stereotypes pertaining to AAF’s in society. The literature review will then discuss racial climate in predominantly white institutions, and include empirical research explaining the impact racial climate, racial microaggressions and stereotyping has on AAF’s desire to pursue doctoral

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    African-American Women Book Review
    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages

    African-American Women Book Review

    Based on these results, the author listed seven themes which were common factors for all fourteen participants. They were the following: (1) pioneer women, the first, the only and lonely; (2) presidential aspirations; (3) deal with the “isms”; (4) struggles with legitimacy; (5) detractors; (6) sustainers; and (7) negotiating biculturality. The significance of this study was broken down into four categories, and they are: (1) this level of administrative position did not have documentation in literature reviews, therefore, it was extremely important to capture for future purposes, (2) strategies which helped the administrators sustain themselves in their leading roles, (3) this would be documented proof that may be used by all community colleges and help their white male and other cultures in understand and working closer with Black Women, and (4) this tool would be a great institutional awareness in assisting community colleges in seeking and retaining women of color. In conclusion, the results of the findings will be documented to alert aspiring Black Women of the various challenges to expect coupled with the many barrier to…

    • 451 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Decent Essays

    Black Women In Congress: Sticking The Balance Summary
    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Black Women In Congress: Sticking The Balance Summary

    JBHE. 1997. "The Economic Payoff in the Higher Education of African Americans". The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Summary: The importance of earning a higher level of education is vital for black women.…

    • 552 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Decent Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Unpacking Black In America Summary
    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Unpacking Black In America Summary

    Unpacking: Black in America For the cultural event I attended a seminar at the African American resource center at Cal State Fullerton. The seminar focused on “Unpacking: Black in America” gathered African American students from CSUF to speak upon how they felt as a minority in this country. They also shared out their personal stories and experiences on being African American. Gwendolyn Alexis is a faculty liaison for the African American Resource Center who facilitated the event. Professor Alexis is an advocate for African American and minorities she brings knowledge and support for these communities.…

    • 740 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Sylvia Hurtado Pioneers
    • 1566 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Sylvia Hurtado Pioneers

    Her research concerning climate has begun a revolution for colleges to begin to take underrepresented students into consideration, starting with the mission statement to curriculum changes. Due to the increase in underrepresented students on college campuses, including first generation students and minority students, her focus has been to show that improvement and development in colleges is crucial for student success (Hurtado & Ponjuan, 2005). Student success needs to have a shift since the demographic makeup of college students has shifted. Development from within the college is important. Faculty members’ and professors’ exposure to diversity is a necessity for the development of college campuses as well.…

    • 1566 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Stereotype Threat In Education
    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Stereotype Threat In Education

    Stereotype: A Threat to Intellectual Identity and Performance According to Claude Steele and Joshua Aronson, one cause of the relatively poor achievement faced by African Americans in school and by women in math and science-related fields is stereotype threat. This theory is based on the assumption that school success results from self-identification with the school and its subdomains which entails sustained motivation. If this relationship isn’t formed or is broken, achievement may suffer. Additionally, both authors advocate that an understanding and elimination of stereotype threats in an educational environment, also called “wise schooling,” is a solution to narrowing the performance gaps seen between the minority groups and white male students.…

    • 789 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    African American Influence On Education
    • 1222 Words
    • 5 Pages

    African American Influence On Education

    In turn, it hinders their opportunities, their development of their sense of self, their self-esteem, their education, their sense of agency, ambition. It hinders them by manipulating them into self-handicapping their potential, and therefore their future. African Americans struggle immensely with high school dropout rates, and even if those are overcome, they are met with obstacle after obstacle in their journey towards higher education and beyond. It can be hard to maintain hope and hard work with so many discouraging norms set up against a single solitary person. However, there is hope through change.…

    • 1222 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Double-Consciousness In Passing By Nella Larson
    • 1289 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Double-Consciousness In Passing By Nella Larson

    Double-Consciousness The concept of “Double-Consciousness” is typically known for being a common experience among the black community in America. When broken down, double-consciousness can be explained as the feeling of one’s identity, but split into different parts, instead of one whole identity. Dubois’ explanation of this concept is “One ever feels his two-ness,--an American, a Negro; two souls, two thoughts, two reconciled strivings; two warring ideals in one dark body, whose dogged strength alone keeps it from being torn asunder.” (The Souls of Black Folk).…

    • 1289 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    HBCU Reflective Essay
    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages

    HBCU Reflective Essay

    INTRODUCTION Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have been and are critical drivers of social mobility and social change in the Black community. Since their founding they have had missions to provide access and opportunity for Black people when they were excluded or denied admittance elsewhere. Today, HBCUs continue close the societal and economic gaps that exist for Black people in America. HBCUs represent just three percent of institutions of higher education, enroll less than ten percent of African Americans in higher education, but graduate more than 17 percent of African American bachelor degrees and more than 24 percent of African American bachelor degrees in STEM fields (NCES, 2016).…

    • 686 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Shamus Khan's Priviledge Chapter Summary
    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Shamus Khan's Priviledge Chapter Summary

    Shamus Khan’s Privilege: The Making of an Adolescent Elite at St. Paul’s School is a excellent example of the sociological imagination at work. The book examines the school from all angles, from different perspectives, and compares it to the school’s earlier years. Kahn often includes anecdotal stories of specific students in between his sociological analyses which help bring the situation to life and provide a more in depth look at the student’s lives. C. Wright Mills, the American sociologist who claimed that the sociological imagination was being lost in most research, would have found Kahn’s book to be a rich examination of the culture of St. Paul’s School. I.…

    • 898 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    The Importance Of African American Studies
    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages

    The Importance Of African American Studies

    Over the course of the years that African American Studies has been a separate functioning entity, there have been different ideological and political reasons for why African American studies are needed in institutions of higher education. Scholars such as Nathan Hare, John Henrik Clark, John W. Blassingame and Devere E. Pentony have given their own varied rationales as to why they believe African American Studies is a necessity within these institutions; if it is even one at all. Each of these men have different opinions on this topic but they do share one similar perspective. The historical importance of black people should be taught and made a fundamental component of African American Studies because in institutions of higher education,…

    • 835 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Racial/Ethnic Inequality In College Admissions
    • 1239 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Racial/Ethnic Inequality In College Admissions

    The college admissions process is a difficult path to navigate. Between transcripts and letters of recommendations, there are several aspects one needs to be educated about. I believe that race/ethnicity should not be one of the variables that undergraduate and graduate schools use in making admissions decisions. Although white, non-Hispanic males make more on average compared to any other race with a bachelor’s degree (O’Brien 64), which then could lead to higher donating to the school’s endowment, the very fact of not letting someone into the institution based on race or ethnicity is very similar to the definition of racism. O’Brien defined it as “A system that advantages the dominant racial groups in a society” (O’Brien 56).…

    • 1239 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Dazy Sena Admission Theme
    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Dazy Sena Admission Theme

    Danzy Senna’s Admission is a short story that involves racial and class dynamics, and follows the plight of Cassie, a black upper-middle class mother who struggles with her desire to have her son attend a highly coveted institution. The story begins with Cassie and her husband, Duncan, receiving an invitation for an interview at the Institute for Early Childhood Development, which throughout the story, is portrayed as elusive and glorified by many of the upper-class mothers around Cassie. While she had originally applied to the school for a tour in order to reap some inspiration for a play that she is writing, Cassie soon becomes charmed by the institution's acclaim. However, Duncan ridicules the notion of their son, Cody, attending the school,…

    • 770 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Improved Essays

    Ron Brown Scholar Program
    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages

    Ron Brown Scholar Program

    According to the U.S Census, there are around 655,000 current African American high school seniors. Yet, when reading the statistics of the Ron Brown scholarship applicant pool, there were only 4,000 students who applied. These 4,000 merely makeup .006 percent of the black seniors in this country, and they shine a light on an area that the Ron Brown Scholar program needs to address. Today, the modern education system is tainted with bureaucratic and oligarchical tendencies that prevents students of color, and low socioeconomic backgrounds from excelling in this highly competitive field.…

    • 454 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Improved Essays
    Read More
  • Superior Essays

    Identity Of African American Women: Article Analysis
    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Identity Of African American Women: Article Analysis

    Reading these articles supported the idea that stereotypes influence the development of identity for African American women. In developing social identity, the identity developed because of membership to a group is crucial in developing identity to one’s self (Thomas, Hacker, and Hoxka 530). As shown in Bany, Robnett, and Feliciano’s article, the stereotypes depict African American women as obese, highly sexual, and highly talkative to name a few stereotypes (Bany, Robnett, and Feliciano 203). By having such stereotypes shows how African American women are forced to face these stereotypes in trying to find out who they are as individuals and have to come to terms with these stereotypes’ existent. Not only was reading these articles an enlightening…

    • 1582 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Superior Essays
    Read More
  • Great Essays

    Examples Of Identity Marginalization
    • 927 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Examples Of Identity Marginalization

    My experiences of identity marginalization motivate my study of racial and sexual minorities. Growing up as a 1.5 generation Korean-American lesbian going back and forth between the white-dominated United States and male-dominated Confucius South Korean society, I struggled with people continuously doubting my abilities and potentials as an individual based on my race, gender, and sexuality. As a sociologist in training, I recognize that the “unfair treatments” I endured as an ethnoracial and sexual minority are part of the larger, complex social mechanisms fueled by power struggles and sociocultural forces. These experiences shape my scholarly identity and interests in culture, race/ethnicity, and sexuality. I chose to enter the sociology…

    • 927 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Great Essays
    Read More

Related Topics

Ready To Get Started?
Discover
Company
Follow
©2024 Cram.com
Privacy Policy |  About Ads |  Site Map |  Advertise  | 
  • Cookie Settings