Abstract
Gendered racism emerges as a pervasive mental health concern among Black women doctoral students. However, there is a scarcity of existing literature on the strategies being used to maintain mental well-being while navigating gendered racism among Black women doctoral students. To address the current gaps in scientific knowledge, this dissertation completed individual semi-structured interviews. Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA), and the lens of Black Feminist Thought and Intersectionality were used as guiding theoretical frameworks to examine narratives of fifteen Black women doctoral students at universities in the United States. The study findings provided insight into coping strategies and the role of radical healing as a way of resisting oppression while in a doctoral program. Data analysis resulted in three themes describing coping strategies: (1) navigating identity and social dynamics, (2) incorporating coping strategies and wellness, and (3) healing and activism in the pursuit of equity. Healing and activism encompassed strategies of radical healing. Implications for research and practice are offered.
Committee Chair
Vetta Sanders Thompson
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Author's Department
Social Work
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
5-22-2024
Language
English (en)
Recommended Citation
Keys, Phylicia, "Navigating Gendered Racism through Coping and Radical Healing: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis of Black Women’s Mental Health in Doctoral Programs" (2024). Brown School Theses and Dissertations. 35.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.7936/GS30-EZ21