A little over a year ago I successfully defended my Ed. D dissertation. It was a labor of love exploring the experiences of women of color professionals in higher education as they experience the world through the lens of both race and gender and most importantly, the role of group peer mentorship in supporting their professional journeys. While it focused on the realm of higher education, I can assure you the experiences of women of color navigating organizational culture, while in pursuit of career success, are more similar than not across industries.
What I loved about this research is that I was able to create a space that allowed the participants to be vulnerable and to share their experiences. There was raw emotion. What I also loved was that while the stories and experiences were shared, the women nodded their heads in agreement and aligned their own experiences with what they heard. At times there was agreement in silence, as some stories that were shared were so stunning, yet recognizable and not a surprise, reflective of the marginalization they all experienced within their respective organizational cultures. Institutionalized patriarchy, unresponsive leadership, a lack of professional development opportunities and mentorship, a lack of equity and equality, a lack of growth opportunities and a lack of allyship are just some of the challenges women of color face within their organizations.
What my research participants found was solace in spaces with other women of color, spaces where one can ask the question, “Am I crazy?” and the response will be, “No, you are not.” It is within the space of shared lived experiences that we are also able to share resources, to share insight and to collectively problem solve. We seek opportunities to coalesce, to network, to be with other women who identify with our experiences, to be with others who have a growth mindset, to be with others who can motivate and inspire us, to be with others who push us out of our comfort zone and most importantly to be with women who can symbiotically advise, mentor and support one another. We seek community.
For my dissertation, I piloted a peer mentorship community for women of color higher education professionals, who found such value in the group that we still gather periodically to support one another’s professional journeys. In a conversation discussing the “rules of engagement” for the pilot community, one of my participants poignantly noted, “This is church and we are all priests” reflecting: (1) the sacredness of the community space and (2) we are all on the same level and accountable to maintaining the sacredness of the space. We as women of color must create supportive communities that empower us to thrive and define joy and success on our own terms despite the marginalization and the “isms” encountered on a regular basis.
My research was inspired by my own real life sister circle who have created space over the last several years to motivate and inspire one another and to validate our experiences as women of color. Our friendships, our sister circles are everything to us. They are the buoy in stormy seas that keep us afloat.
bell hooks said, “Beloved community is formed not by the eradication of difference but by its affirmation, by each of us claiming the identities and cultural legacies that shape who we are and how we live in the world.” As women of color we need community spaces, now more than ever. My explorations have affirmed that (1) we experience and navigate the world around us through lens of our multiple identities; (2) we need fellowship in sacred spaces that honor our experiences and identities; and (3) our respective experiences are resources for others.
I am dedicated to creating sacred spaces for women of color and celebrating just how creative and resilient we truly are in our pursuit to define joy and success on our own terms. Stay tuned as there is more to come. In the meantime, please reach out to me and share how your sister circles have impacted your journey.
Warmest Regards,
