A Social-Ecological Model for Racially Diverse Women in Higher Education

Abstract

Systemic and structural inequities have created barriers to the success of women of color in higher education. In the U.S., racially diverse women are underrepresented among faculty and senior leaders, and they experience complex challenges because of their intersectional identities. This chapter builds on a Social-Ecological Model of Support (SEM), designed to guide the development of effective interventions through social environments. There is a focus on the organizational level, which promotes practices and policies that advance diversity and opportunity for racially diverse women in higher education roles. An examination of race and gender-based affirmative action and its effects, to include increased representation of White women as higher education faculty and senior leaders is provided. Also outlined are recommendations to strengthen affirmative action programs in ways that promote diversity, mitigating issues of gendered racism and intersectional discrimination, which compromise recruitment, retention, and advancement of racially diverse women in higher education settings.