| dc.description.abstract | The United States is a nation rooted in imperialism, colonialism, and racism, built on the
backs of minoritized people whose perspectives are not reflected in dominant narratives
at every level of society. Historically, Black women have had both racialized and
gendered experiences generally and specifically in institutions of postsecondary
education, via exclusion and adverse experiences (Collins, 2000; Garcia, 2019; Karkouti,
2016). This historical exclusion exists in part due to the white male hegemony. As a
result, and as a coping mechanism, Black women often created or assisted in the creation
of affinity-based student organizations. These organizations were aimed at supporting
Black students and serving as activist and catalysts for change. This study examines the
experiences of Black women engaged affinity-based groups at PWIs in Minnesota, Iowa,
and Wisconsin. The purpose of this study is to understand the perceptions held by the
study population regarding their institution and how that perception helped them to make
meaning of their experience. The research questions that guide this dissertation include:
(a) How do Black undergraduate women engaged in affinity-based organizations perceive
institutional support at PWIs (during times of activism)? and (b) How do participants
describe their relationship with such institutions? | en_US |
