ERIC Number: ED637584
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 253
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: 979-8-3801-1370-0
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Raging Waters of Whiteness: Addressing White Evangelical Racism in Higher Education
Jason J. Cha
ProQuest LLC, Ph.D./HE Dissertation, Azusa Pacific University
Too often, the racial diversity conversation is perceived as an issue for people of color rather than one that also profoundly impacts White people. The power of whiteness often reflects its invisibility, particularly embedded into the culture of Christian colleges. This study was a hermeneutic phenomenology of diversity professionals addressing whiteness at Christian colleges. The shift in examining racism to name the dominant culture of whiteness on Christian college campuses has remained largely missing from scholarly literature. Research to date had primarily focused on the experiences of students of color at Christian colleges and was missing the exploration of naming and addressing whiteness. This study aimed to bring visibility to whiteness and critically examine racism in Christian higher education (i.e., White evangelical racism). The central research question of this study was: What are the lived experiences of diversity professionals addressing whiteness at Christian colleges? Seven diversity professionals at Christian colleges shared their experiences engaging in diversity work. The study analyzed these experiences through three frameworks: critical race theory, critical White studies, and evangelical postcolonial studies. Four themes that emerged in the findings were: (a) struggle, (b) pain, (c) evolution of professionals, and (d) glimpses of transformative work. Critical frameworks to address whiteness and white normativity are needed in Christian higher education to transform a cultural captivity to White evangelical racism. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]
Descriptors: Christianity, Religious Colleges, Predominantly White Institutions, Religious Factors, Racism, School Personnel, Cultural Pluralism, Cultural Differences, Pain, Barriers, Transformative Learning, Professional Development
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Publication Type: Dissertations/Theses - Doctoral Dissertations
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A