Abstract:
Throughout the years, Black women have worked to advance their quality of life. Black women have been obtaining additional degrees and certifications. Despite the degrees, years of experience, and qualifications, Black women are still unable to secure positions of administration in higher education institutions. Studies have shown that there are low faculty numbers of African American women being full-time professors in higher education institutions.
This study revealed themes related to Black women in higher education as they shared their challenges to career advancement. To prevent some of these threats, only participants who were truly interested in the study and who would like to see change occur were asked to participate. Collecting as much data as possible during this study was pivotal. Interviews consisted of open-ended questions. It was important for a researcher to understand and interpret what the participant said. Initial coding and In Vivo Coding were for data analysis.
Interviews were conducted with eight Black women in various positions in multiple higher education institutions. Based on the data collected, six major themes arouse: 1) income and salary, 2) work-life balance, 3) career trajectory, 4) lack of mentorship, 5) PWI versus HBCU, and 6) racism and sexism. Findings indicated that Black women often feel undervalued and less supported in their work as compared to their counterparts. The researcher recommends that this new information can be used to further develop targeted administrative development programs for Black women working in higher education institutions.