Is excellence inclusive? The benefits of fostering Black female college athlete\u27s sense of belonging

The purpose of this research note is to urge intercollegiate athletic departments and their administrators to foster a sense of belonging amongst Black female college athletes to aid in their felt membership as a college athlete and support their development as viable employment candidates in college sport. Black female college athletes’ graduation rates are on the rise; however, these being hired at dismal rates in college sport. By fostering a sense of belonging, Black female college athletes as a historically marginalized group are able to feel a sense of connectedness in the athletics and greater university environment; athletic departments commit to major organizational change that values diversity and inclusion; and through its commitment, a culture of inclusive excellence is felt by all students, faculty, staff and athletic administrators and coaches

Black College Athletes’ Perceptions of Academic Success and the Role of Social Support

The purpose of this study is to understand Black college athletes’ perceptions of academic success and how social support contributes to their academic success at predominantly white institution of higher education (PWIHE). Utilizing a qualitative approach, the authors conducted narrative interviews to capture the experiences of Black college athletes (n = 9) at a PWIHE in the southwest region of the United States. Critical race theory was employed to understand the social realities and academic experiences of racial minorities within the academic environment. Findings revealed Black college athletes’ social support was based on their role as a college athlete and as a racial minority, thus reinforcing the notion of social isolation and alienation. Acknowledging the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s (NCAA) definition of academic success (e.g., grade point average, graduation), it is plausible that understanding how college athletes perceive academic success and value of social support can aid in achieving academic success according to the NCAA of not only Black college athletes, but a diverse body of college athletes

“I Don’t Really Know What the Magic Wand Is to Get Yourself in There” : Women’s Sense of Organizational Fit as Coach Developers

Building on the body of research that has addressed the experiences of female coaches, the present study examines women’s role as coach developers. English football served as the context for the research. Figures demonstrate women are underrepresented in this role more so than they are as coaches, and their distribution across the coach developer pathway is unevenly balanced, with most women qualified at Level I of the pathway. Using the concept of ‘organizational fit’, the research connects the experiences of the 10 coach developers interviewed, to the structural practices of their national and local governing bodies. These practices were symptomatic of the organizations’ culture that is created and upheld by masculine ideals. Work expectations and the environment were structured on the image of men as coaches and coach developers. Cultural barriers to women’s sense of organizational fit were specifically found to be: the incentive to progress (return on investment from higher coaching qualifications), the degree of organizational support and nurture, and the opportunity to progress and practice. Consequently, organizational expectations and values do not support the ambitions of women to climb the coach developer career ladder, and restrict their sense of choice and control. Future research should direct its attention towards a greater interrogation of aspects of sport organizational culture that may serve to ‘push’ female coaches away from its core, or alternatively, pull them closer to engage and make use of their expertise and abilities as coach developers

"Not just merely different: Travelling Theories, post-feminism and the racialized politics of women of color"

I argue (with Samie, 2017) that when even the so-called “critical” scholarship about women of color mostly speaks to cultural tropes of difference, this limits the possibility of recovering alternative knowledges. For me, uncovering persistent problems is an essential step to urging contemporary researchers to better recover diverse representations of difference that are sometimes consciously, and other times inadvertently, erased. Adding my voice to a number of sport scholars who advocate a decolonising approach, this paper highlights the importance of centring the differential manifestation of power asymmetries through a transnational feminist approach, within and across the transient boundaries of space, belonging and knowledge production, in order to put the “critical” back into critical studies of race, sport and gender

Tucker Center Talks: S2E12 - Inequalities for Black Women in Coaching, Mentorship and Academia

Runtime 54:50In this episode, Nicole talks to colleagues Dr. Joyce Olushola-Ogunrinde (U of Houston) & Dr. Akilah Carter-Francique (San Jose State U) about their work as scholars, advocates, activists and mentors as black women in academia. Specifically they discuss barriers for black women in coaching, lack of representation, the power of being fully and authentically seen, and the untold stories of the women that came before them. They also discuss their current and upcoming research projects, that you won’t want to miss. And they conclude with a call to action for everyone, and advice to young women who may want to pursue a similar career path; we are all here to uplift you

Bias Within: Examining the Role of Cultural Competence Perceptions in Mammography Adherence

Breast cancer mortality has affected African American women at a disproportionate rate. The purpose of this research wasto assess how health professionals" cultural competence contributes to African American women"s barriers to and receiptof mammograms. Sixty-one African American women residing in Harris County, Texas, shared their views within a seriesof focus groups. Theoretical propositions from the PEN-3 model were used to understand mammography adherence atthe interpersonal level. Participants noted various perceived factors associated with mammography incompliance. Lack ofprofessionalism of clinicians and clerical staff contributed to a decrease in health care services utilization. In addition, culturalinsensitivity and discriminatory behavior enabled an attitude of medical mistrust. Improving patient--provider communication,through culturally appropriate centered educational efforts, is a beneficial strategy for breast health programs amongunderserved populations