Generations Apart: A Mixed Methods Study of Black Women's Attitudes About Race and Social Activism

Since the beginning of slavery in the United States, Black women have been actively involved in the creation and formation of Black civil society. The abolitionist, Black women's club, and civil rights movements challenged White supremacy and created institutions that fought for political, social, and economic justice. Historically, Black women have engaged in the struggle for group survival while at the same time fighting for institutional transformation to eliminate or change discriminatory policies, practices, and procedures. With each passing generation, Black women have led efforts of resistance against racial discrimination, gender bias, and class exploitation. However, with each passing generation, the concept and meaning of race has changed. Immigration, colorblind ideology, post-racial and post-civil rights attitudes influence the meaning and relevance of race. While some Black women have moved into the middle class and beyond, a majority of Black women remain poor and the objects of both racial and gender discrimination. The purpose of this study is to examine how race influences the activities of Black women in search of political, social, and economic justice. The research design was an exploratory sequential mixed-methods study that investigated the generation differences in racial attitudes and social justice involvement among Black women. The study consisted of a total of 183 participants and included six personal interviews, four focus groups, and a survey. Twenty African American women participated in the personal interviews and focus groups. In total, 163 African American women participated in the survey. An analysis of the qualitative data indicated that regardless of the generation cohort, the African American women participating in this study perceive race as a relevant issue and an issue that influences the life chances of African Americans in general. Additionally, there is a perception amongst the participants that there is a crisis of follow-ship rather than a crisis of leadership in the African American community. An analysis of the quantitative data indicated that gendered racial stereotyping of African American women remains a problem within the African American community and the broader society. While African American women continue to play a critical role in social justice initiatives, gendered racial stereotyping influences the perception of their leadership. This document is accompanied by one video file (MP4) that contains the author's introduction to the dissertation and 11 audio files (MP3s) that contain selected responses from personal interview and focus group participants. Follow this link, https://ys-media.antioch.edu/uploads/authorintroduction.flv , to connect to the author's introduction. The electronic version of the Dissertation is accessible in the open-access Ohiolink ETD Center http://etd.ohiolink.edu .

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Leadership and Change

Grantor dc:publisher

Antioch University

Year dc:date

2013

Author dc:creator

• Love, Carolyn D.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Booysen, Lize

• African Americans
• Black Studies
• Gender
• Womens Studies
• race
• racial studies
• social activism
• generational differences
• intersectionality
• standpoint
• social identity
• mixed-methods, African Americans, women

Statement dc:rights

• unrestricted
• This thesis or dissertation is protected by copyright: all rights reserved. It may not be copied or redistributed beyond the terms of applicable copyright laws.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1363100026

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:etd.ohiolink.edu:antioch1363100026