African American women in the academe: A comprehensive literature review through the lens of intersectionality Conference

Ross, MS, Fletcher, TL, Cox, MF et al. (2015). African American women in the academe: A comprehensive literature review through the lens of intersectionality . 122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Making Value for Society(122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Making Value for Society),

cited authors

  • Ross, MS; Fletcher, TL; Cox, MF; Main, JB

fiu authors

abstract

  • College enrollment is on the rise. Universities have experienced a 37% increase from 2000 to 2010; this includes a rise in underrepresented minority (URM) students from 1976 to 2010. Hispanic student numbers rose from 3 percent to 13 percent, Asian/Pacific Islander students rose from 2 percent to 6 percent, and the percentage of Black students rose from 9 percent to 14 percent. However, the faculty demographic has not kept pace with the increase in URM enrollment. The percentage of URM faculty has remained flat over the last 20 years, hovering at just a little over 5 percent. Researchers, educators, and practitioners believe that in order for students to succeed academically, they need role models and mentors with whom they can identify. Racial and ethnic diversity has both direct and indirect positive effects on the educational outcomes and experiences of students. The campus climate improves when the diversity of the student population matches that of the faculty. Students from majority groups equally benefit from learning and exchanging ideas in a multicultural environment, offering a wider range of research and a broader representation of alternative perspectives. Therefore, the shift in American demographics over the next ten years changes the question from whether colleges and universities want to support diversity in their faculty distribution to how colleges and universities will accommodate this necessity. Thus, this is a review of the literature on one demographic in engineering academe, the African American woman. African American women are at the intersection of two of the most pervasive prejudices in this country: racism and sexism. This review will unveil some of the unique challenges African American female engineering faculty due to the intersectionality of race and gender. In order, to increase the numbers, the engineering education community must first fully understand the barriers these women face.

publication date

  • January 1, 2015

volume

  • 122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Making Value for Society

issue

  • 122nd ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition: Making Value for Society