When Black Girl Magic Isn't Enough: Supporting Black Women College Students through Advising and Coaching - NACADA
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
When Black Girl Magic Isn’t Enough: Supporting Black
Women College Students through Advising and Coaching
Presenters:
Dawn Matthews, Ph.D. Rose-May Frazier, Ph.D.
Associate Director, Advising First Director, Advising First
Florida State University Florida State University
dmatthews@fsu.edu rdfrazier@admin.fsu.edu
LaShae Roberts, M.S., MSW Nina Flanagan, M.S.
Assistant Director, Advising First Assistant Director, Advising First
Florida State University Florida State University
lroberts@admin.fsu.edu nflanagan@admin.fsu.edu
Overview
This webinar seeks to highlight the experiences of Black women as college students and aid practitioners
supporting these women. As Black women who are scholars, professionals, and authors we offer insight that is
grounded in research and our personal experiences. Within higher education, Black Girl Magic is characterized
by how Black women in college combat stereotypes, navigate hostile environments, and earn college degrees
in a system that has perpetually ostracized them (Morton & Parsons, 2018). Despite the ability to excel
academically and socially within campus life, Black women college students still contend with discrimination,
stereotyping, isolation, and tokenism. The paradox of their success and their marginalized identity have stifled
conversations surrounding strategies on how to support them holistically. When working with Black women
college students, it is essential that advisors, success coaches, and administrators use a unique approach that
conveys inclusivity and an awareness around the cultural influences Black women students experience during
their academic career.
Pre-Webinar Suggestions
When Black Girl Magic Isn’t Enough: Supporting Black
Women College Students through Advising and Coaching
https://nacada.ksu.edu/Resources/Academic-Advising-
Today/View-Articles/When-Black-Girl-Magic-Isnt-Enough-
Supporting-Black-College-Women-Through-Advising-
Coaching.aspx
Presentation Activities
Utilize these Guiding Questions to reflect on your department/institution’s efforts to support Black college
women
Is data considered/ disaggregated with
Does your institution employee Black
consideration to the persistence,
women to ensure that representation
engagement, and graduation metrics of
exists?
Black women?
GUIDING QUESTIONS
Do Black women students feel able to Are there ongoing efforts to improve
take advantage of the support services the experience of all marginalized
offered on your campus? studnets groups?
Review the Challenges Black College Women Face diagram below and consider how they may be impacting
Black college women on your campus.
Sexism &
Racism
Being the Lack
only/ of/Limited
tokenism Mentorship
CHALLENGES
BLACK
COLLEGE
WOMEN FACE
Imposter
Isolation
Syndrome
Current
Events
When Black Girl Magic Isn’t Enough: Supporting Black Women College Students through Advising and Coaching
2
Review the How to Support College Women display below and consider how to incoporate the strategies
discussed in the presentation and article in your practice.
HOW TO SUPPORT BLACK COLLEGE WOMEN
Acknowledge Advocate
Support
Review the Approaches to Supporting Black College Women chart below. Research each approach and
determine how you can incorporate in your practice.
APPROACHES TO SUPPORTING BLACK COLLEGE WOMEN
Appreciative
Advising
Inclusive Advising
Coaching
Strategies
Strengths-based
Advising
When Black Girl Magic Isn’t Enough: Supporting Black Women College Students through Advising and Coaching
3
Post-Webinar Resources
12 Resources for Black Women Seeking Mental Health Support
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/wellness/g33469164/black-mental-health-resources/
25 Podcasts Hosted by Black Women That You Need to Listen to Right Now
https://www.poddraland.com/the-podcast-list/25-podcasts-hosted-by-black-women-that-you-need-to-listen-
to-now
10 Documentaries To Watch About Race Instead of Asking A Person Of Colour To Explain Things For You
https://www.docplay.com/articles/10-documentaries-to-watch-about-race-instead-of-asking-a-person-of-
colour-to-explain-things-for-
you/?fbclid=IwAR19aQHUEcBCkQqYxaYGGksXf6GHLrEVXQQzOQv2gEsoR6pIC0Z8QaMJ8Wc
Ally or Accomplice? The Language of Activism
https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/ally-or-accomplice-the-language-of-activism
Selected References
Carter, L., & Rossi, A. (2019). Embodying strength: The origin, representations, and socialization of the strong
black women ideal and its effect on black women’s mental health. Women & Therapy, 43(3-4), 289-300.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02703149.2019.1622911.
Desnoyers-Colas, E. F. (2019). Talking loud and saying nothing: Kicking faux ally-ness to the curb by battling
racial battle fatigue using white accomplice-ment. Departures in Critical Qualitative Research, 8(4), 100–105.
Halliday, A. S., & Brown, N. E. (2018). The power of Black Girl Magic anthems: Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, and
“feeling myself” as political empowerment. Souls, 20(2), 222–238.
Hobson, J., & Owens, T. (2019). Black Girl Magic beyond the hashtag: Twenty-first-century acts of self-
definition. University of Arizona Press.
Martins, T.V., Souza de Lima, T.J., & Santos, W.S. (2020). Effects of gendered racial microaggressions on the
mental health of black women. effects of gendered racial microaggressions on the mental health of black
women.
Walton, Q.L., & Oyewuwo-Gassikia, O.B. (2017). The case of #BlackGirlMagic: Application of a strengths-based,
intersectional practice framework for working with black women in depression. Journal of Women and Social
Work, 32(4), 461-475.https://doi.org/10.1177/0886109917712213
West, N. M. (2017). Withstanding our status as outsiders-within: Professional counter spaces for African
American women student affairs administrators. NASPA Journal About Women in Higher Education, 10(3),
281-300
When Black Girl Magic Isn’t Enough: Supporting Black Women College Students through Advising and Coaching
4
4/14/2021
Presentation Outline
When Black Girl Magic Isn’t Enough:
Supporting Black Women College
Students through Advising & Coaching
Dawn Matthews, Rose-May Frazier,
LaShae Roberts & Nina Flanagan
About the Context & Challenges Addressing the
Florida State University Presenters Purpose challenges
© 2021 – All Rights Reserved
1 2
Dedication
About the Presenters
Dr. Dawn Matthews Nina Flanagan LaShae Roberts Dr. Rose-May Frazier
Wilmington/Newark, DE Tallahassee, Fl Fort Lauderdale, FL Brooklyn, NY/Carol City, FL
HBCU Graduate Mom of two FSU three-time graduate Graduate of both a PWI &
Boy mom of a 3 year old Asst. Director of Advising/ Mom of a college student HBCU
Ph.D. in Higher Ed Center for Exploratory Asst. Director of Advising/ Mom of two pre-teen ladies
Assoc. Director of Advising Center for College Life Director of Advising & College
Coaching Life Coaching
3 4
Disclaimer The Paradox of Success
• What is #BlackGirlMagic?
• Black women are not a monolithic
group
• Is #BlackGirlMagic the same as the ‘Strong
Black Woman’ Schema?
• This presentation is situated in
the context of literature and the
lived experiences of the • What does #BlackGirlMagic look like?
presenters.
5 6
1
4/14/2021
Why does this
matter?
• Increase in demographic changes
in student population/Society
• Intersectionality (Gender & Race)
• Gendered-Racial Battle Fatigue
(GRBF)
7 8
Discrimination, Stereotypes, and Microaggressions
Challenges for Black Women College Students
Discrimination
• Imposter Syndrome • Combating societal stereotypes
• Gender Gap • Other-mothering
• Being the Only/Tokenism • Institutional Differences
• Current events • Lack of social capital
• Isolation • Gendered Racism/
• Lack of/limited mentorship Intersectionality Stereotyping Microaggressions
9 10
Tokenism Mentorship
• Represent their race in a non- • An innate need for college Black women to
diverse population find familial connections from those that
look like them
• Work twice as hard to show they
belong • Mentorship can result in retention of Black
college women and connectivity to campus
• Recognize the difference in their
contributions to social capital • “Other-mothering” and the unique
relationship between African American
mentees and a mentor.
•
11 12
2
4/14/2021
Current Events Coping with Mental Health
• Election and inauguration of Black woman to VP role • The Facts
and various other high-ranking positions • High depression rates
• Slayings of Black men, women, and children • Black women vs. White women
• Social and political unrest
• Warning Signs
• COVID-19 Pandemic
• Imposter Syndrome
• Media portrayal and/or silence surrounding Black • Strong Black Woman Schema
issues and inequities • Performing Strength
13 14
College Community:
Social Capital:
Friendships
Check on siblings
Homework
Family
Advisor meeting
Acknowledging responsibilities
Navigating GRBF
Study groups
Did you hear about Attend class
the rose that grew
from a crack in the Special Interests:
Role:
concrete? Daughter,
Work-study
Part-time job
Sister,
Volunteering
Best friend,
Advocate
and Student
Mentorship
15 16
Supporting Approaches to Support
• It takes “A Village”
• Other-mothering Appreciate Advising
• You can support too Inclusive Advising
• How non-Black advisors
can help
Strengths‐based Advising
• Providing resources
• Make the connection Coaching strategies
17 18
3
4/14/2021
Advocating
Ally
Activism displayed
Accomplice
through supportive Utilizing one’s privilege to
behavior and solidarity dismantle and/or disrupt
efforts with marginalized systems of oppression
communities
19 20
Guiding/Reflection Questions
Does your institution employ Black women to ensure that representation
exists?
Is data examined with consideration to the persistence, engagement, and
graduation of Black women students?
Do Black women students feel able to take advantage of the support
services offered on your campus?
Are their ongoing efforts to improve the experience of all marginalized
student groups?
21 22
23 24
4
4/14/2021
25 26
When Black Girl Magic Isn’t Enough: Supporting Black
Women College Students through Advising & Coaching
Rainbows Presenters:
Dawn Matthews, Associate Director, Advising First, Florida State University
only come Rose‐May Frazier, Director, Advising First, Florida State University
LaShae Roberts, Assistant Director, Advising First, Florida State University
after storms
Nina Flanagan, Assistant Director, Advising First, Florida State University
© 2021 NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising
The contents of all material in this presentation are copyrighted by NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising, unless otherwise indicated.
Copyright is not claimed as to any part of an original work prepared by a U.S. or state government officer or employee as part of that person's official duties. All
rights are reserved by NACADA, and content may not be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated, published, or transferred in any form or by any means, except
with the prior written permission of NACADA, or as indicated below. Members of NACADA may download pages or other content for their own use, consistent
with the mission and purpose of NACADA. However, no part of such content may be otherwise or subsequently be reproduced, downloaded, disseminated,
published, or transferred, in any form or by any means, except with the prior written permission of, and with express attribution to NACADA. Copyright
infringement is a violation of federal law and is subject to criminal and civil penalties. NACADA and NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising are
service marks of the NACADA: The Global Community for Academic Advising
27 28
5
You can also read
