ERIC Number: EJ1281962
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 21
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-2637-9112
EISSN: N/A
A Space of Our Own: Examining a Womxn of Color Retreat as a Counterspace
Hernandez Rivera, Stephanie
Journal of Women and Gender in Higher Education, v13 n3 p327-347 2020
This qualitative study investigated a Womxn of Color retreat at a predominantly White institution in the Midwest. The research question is: How and, in what ways does the Womxn of Color retreat align with the concept of a counterspace? An instrumental, embedded single-case study design was executed in conducting this research and multiple data collection methods were used including: interviews, observations, and document collection. The findings demonstrated how the space "countered" the dominant culture at the university where participants are students. The space aligned with the concept of a counterspace in multiple ways, including providing a space for womxns' experiences and stories to be validated and the development of a supportive and loving community. It also provided a space for Womxn of Color to challenge and resist dominant ideologies. Although findings indicate that the retreat aligned with the concept of a counterspace, it also re-created oppressive interpersonal and group dynamics, indicating that even counterspaces are not devoid of enacting dominant ideologies. The conclusions provide an understanding of Womxn of Color's experiences on campus, including how Womxn of Color's stories are silenced and invalidated, how Womxn of Color communities are distinct from other spaces on campus, and the importance of recognizing both the thematic nature of Womxn of Color's experiences and the differences. This article concludes with implications for practitioners on supporting Womxn of Color.
Descriptors: Females, Minority Group Students, School Culture, Educational Discrimination, Undergraduate Students, Story Telling, Resistance (Psychology), Empowerment, Community, Group Unity, Space Utilization, Group Activities
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Missouri
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A