Abstract:
This research investigated four African American females’ comprehension of their life and career trajectories in senior administration jobs. I explored how the race and social status of women influences and shape their leadership roles as practicing female senior administrators. This study highlights the women’s efforts to excel with a focus on the influence of their race and gender as senior administrators. Based on the literature review, I outlined some of the main trends of the intersection of race and gender in female senior leadership. The analytical framework used to frame the data comprised four conceptual strands: 1) advisors and mentors, 2) increasing visibility in the work place, 3) Black Tax, and 4) beating the odds. The findings suggest that African American senior administrators will likely succeed because they devised survival strategies to help them overcome racial and misogynistic challenges in America. The data revealed the women’s struggles to stay visible and essential. Through the study, I demonstrated that African American women’s leadership isn’t just about their strength and resilience. It is about how consistently they rise to overcome challenges for the good of all. The data from the participants show the strategies to address the social, political, and economic challenges they face being Black and female in White male-dominated spaces. I describe the nature and type of research that can raise awareness of the need to level the playing field for African American women in leadership, which can form the basis of further research. My study was based on data collected from African American female senior administrators. Future studies need to extend the database by studying other stakeholders involved in administration: White male and female leaders and Black male leaders to broaden the context.
Keywords: African American, Female, Senior Administrators, Leadership, Race, Social Status