Term of Award
Fall 2005
Degree Name
Doctor of Education in Curriculum Studies (Ed.D.)
Document Type and Release Option
Dissertation (open access)
Copyright Statement / License for Reuse
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Department
Department of Curriculum, Foundations, and Reading
Committee Chair
Delores D. Liston
Committee Member 1
Saundra M. Nettles
Committee Member 2
Ming Fang He
Committee Member 3
Lori E. Amy
Abstract
This inquiry explored the triumphs and trials of five African American women with doctoral degrees in the field of Education. The project is a storytelling and questioning inquiry that is woven around themes of race, gender, spirituality, and family channels through which academia and the world were explored. Although the study focused on the experiences of five African American women, their stories provided the space to identify events, experiences, people, and circumstances that helped to empower them. Realizing everyone has unique perspectives to contribute, these stories offer support for others faced with obstacles to understand that overt and covert adversities will appear; nevertheless, they can be overcome. As life learners and educators of others, we ought to remain cognizant of the needs of students. This exploration provides positive support to counteract the negative media stereotypes and images that bombard our everyday lives. Despite double marginalization because of gender and race, these women that participated in the study excelled and became successful. With their diverse experiences, these women developed strategies to survive, overcome, and achieve. The findings from this study suggest that the experiences of the African American women were connected with and influenced by their relationships with family and others in a mentorship role. I propose that higher education holds a transforming power for African American women as well as others. These stories and strategies should be shared with others as they were shared with the researcher to provide positive encouragement and support as they begin their academic journeys.
Recommended Citation
Baker, Paula Booker, "Resilient Lives: A Critical Narrative Inquiry into the Triumphs and Struggles of Five African-American Women with Doctoral Degrees" (2005). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 484.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/etd/484
Research Data and Supplementary Material
No
