Examining Sense of Belonging in Higher Education Leadership for Black Women with Intersecting Marginalized Identities

Abstract

Black women juggling marginalized minority identities in executive leadership at public four-year universities contend with stigmas associated with race and gender, contributing to a decreased sense of belonging. Significant research has been done about the journeys of Black or African American women as they seek executive roles in higher education. However, minimal research explores Black women\u27s sense of belonging once executive leadership status is reached. Understanding their sense of belonging could fill a gap in practice regarding Black women’s scarcity occupying executive university leadership. This qualitative study examined the perceptions of a sense of belonging for Black women juggling intersecting marginalized identities while in executive leadership at public four-year institutions in the United States. It also explored suggestions to improve belonging. Crenshaw’s intersectionality theory and Maslow\u27s hierarchy of needs grounded this exploration. Twelve women who met the study criteria were interviewed via Zoom audio recordings. Findings showed that Black women in executive leadership had various perceptions of their sense of belonging from feeling “spoiled” to having no expectation of belonging. Overall, these women felt that sense of belonging for Black female executive leaders is a mutual responsibility of Black women and the institution. Key themes that emerged were: the value of villages, belonging beyond institutions, support, creating opportunity, and opting out. Results also indicated that Black women in executive leadership may never fully belong in predominately White spaces. Understanding these women’s perceived sense of belonging can help institutions enact strategies to improve the job satisfaction, recruitment, and retention of Black female executive leaders, which could contribute significantly to positive social change

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This paper was published in Walden University.

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