- Collection:
- Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations
- Title:
- #blackqueergirlmagic: A Phenomenological Study on the Lived Experiences of Black Lesbian Women in Higher Education Leadership
- Creator:
- Genous-tate, Zandra, Clark Atlanta University
- Date of Original:
- 2022-05
- Subject:
- Degrees, Academic
Dissertations, Academic - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- born digital
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore and understand the lived experiences of Black queer women who hold leadership positions within higher education and how those experiences impact their professional success. The significance of this study was to fill the significant void in research, highlight the complexities of the intersections of their identities, improve recruitment and retention strategies of Black lesbian women in higher education leadership while also affirming and highlighting the existence of #Black Queer Girl Magic. This study utilized a phenomenological approach which included semi-structured and in-depth interviews to explore the critical lived experiences of the participants. Twelve themes emerged from the data, which were: (1) I am Black, Queer & a Woman, (2) I Am Who I Am, (3) The Struggle is Real, (4) I have Influence, (5) Being a Black queer woman IS magical, (6) I Show up as myself, (7) Being a Black queer woman comes with discrimination, (8) Black queer women endure oppression, prejudice, and micro-aggressions, (9) Black queer women are the triple-threat minority, (10) Black queer women in leadership need mentors, (11) Black queer women in leadership need networks of support, and (12) Black queer representation in leadership positions matters. The conclusions specified that Black lesbian women in higher education leadership lived experiences are complicated by the intersections of their triple-oppressed identities. Although they exude pride, self-awareness and are influential, they also experience discrimination, prejudice, and oppression in the workplace and constantly fight for equity. Additionally, the findings affirmed that Black Queer Girl Magic exists evidenced by the ability to survive, thrive, and persevere within leadership positions and their lives despite the discrimination and oppression they face. The study revealed several recommendations for practice and research that would improve the lived experiences of Black lesbian women in higher education leadership, including continued research on Black lesbian women inside and outside of higher education, the development of more inclusive and equitable workplace environments, implementation of intercultural competence training, and creating networks of support for Black lesbian women in higher education leadership.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:2022_genous_tate_zandra
- Rights Holder:
- Clark Atlanta University
- Additional Rights Information:
- http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/
- Original Collection:
- Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations
- Holding Institution:
- Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
- Rights:
-
