Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Education

Major

Educational Practice

Date of Defense

6-28-2024

Graduate Advisor

Dr. Thomasina Hassler

Co-Advisor

Dr. Robert Good

Committee

Dr. JaNae’Alfred

Dr. Robert Good

Dr. Thomasina Hassler

Abstract

As a Black woman, my professional journey has been consistently marred by encounters with racism and gender bias. In this research, I employed autoethnography to shed light on my experiences and meticulously examine the challenges of misogynoir I faced while holding pivotal positions, including that of a detested team leader, an ingenious instructional teacher, and an anti-racist assistant principal across three distinct school campuses in two states. My narrative unfolds in various contexts, notably as the sole Black female teacher and team leader within nine elementary schools in a predominantly white, female-staffed rural district. Furthermore, I underscore my role as the only Black instructional leader in a mostly Black school district led by a white female principal. Additionally, I reflect on my experiences as an assistant principal in a southern state. Throughout this exploration, I spotlighted the intersection of my racial and gender identities, shedding light on the dual challenges in the educational system. This research unveils how issues of sex and racism manifest in various forms within the academic sphere. By sharing my personal stories and amplifying my voice, I engage in acts of resistance against the entrenched structures and inequalities within the education system. "Central to my research is the core theoretical framework of 'misogynoir' (Bailey, 2021, p. 37). Coined by Dr. Moya Bailey, 'Misogynoir describes the unique co-constitutive racialized and sexist violence that befalls Black women as a result of the simultaneous and interlocking oppression at the intersection of racial and gender marginalization' (Bailey, 2021, p. 37)." This framework serves as the lens through which I critically analyze the multifaceted nature of discrimination and bias encountered throughout my educational career.

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