We've Stayed Uncomfortable: a Phenomenological Study of Black Female Collegiate Choral Conductors in North America

This phenomenological study addressed the question, "What is the lived experience of Black female collegiate choral directors in North America?" Participants were eight Black women who currently held collegiate choral conducting positions. I sought maximum variation by selecting participants representing diverse academic (i.e., programs of study, institution types, faculty ranks) and life (i.e., motherhood status, region) circumstances. Participants engaged in two interviews and one journal activity. I sought trustworthiness through triangulation, member checking of transcripts, and peer review of coding. Colaizzi's seven-step phenomenological approach to inquiry steered the steps in the thematic analysis. Participants exhibited a mindfulness of internal (self) and external (others) reactions to race and gender, creating chronic discomfort and resilience through necessitation. The participants expressed chronic discomfort through statements referring to weaponized biases, isolation (socially and professionally), and extra labor (voluntary and involuntary) and resilience through necessitation emerged as the participants discussed the lack of representation, their rapport with students and peers, and tasks associated with racial uplift. The findings of this study could provide collegiate music administrators and admissions personnel an in-depth understanding of the complexity of issues faced by Black females in collegiate choral music as both students and professors.

Grantor dc:publisher

Florida State University

Year dc:date

2023

Contributors dc:contributor

• Davis, M. Nicole (author)
• Adams, Kari (professor co-directing dissertation)
• VanWeelden, Kimberly D. (professor co-directing dissertation)
• Lumsden, Rachel, 1977- (university representative)
• Porter, Marcía (committee member)
• Gooding, Lori F. (Lori Fogus) (committee member)
• Florida State University (degree granting institution)
• College of Music (degree granting college)
• Department of Music Education (degree granting department)

• Music--Instruction and study
• African Americans--Study and teaching
• Gender expression
• Gender identity

Language dc:language

English

Identifier

fsu:927865
iid: Davis_fsu_0071E_18056

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:diginole.lib.fsu.edu:fsu_927865