Date of Award
Spring 2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Organizational Leadership
First Advisor
Dr. Joshua D. Henson
Second Advisor
Dr. Bethany Peters
Third Advisor
Dr. Marybeth Gasman
Abstract
Black women in the United States are often portrayed as a monolithic and unified group—defined primarily by racial identity and expectations of a shared understanding of common experiences. However, while racial identity is frequently foregrounded in public discourse, this framing often overlooks the overlapping of Black women’s multiple identities and the influence on their sense of belonging in their various groups. This omission can be subtle yet misleading. How Black women choose to self-identify may result in competing expectations or intragroup mistrust, which can impact their overall leadership and relational experiences. Black women's social identities are diverse, vibrant, and transcend any single perception. For some, national and cultural identities are paramount and overshadow racial considerations, while for others, their racial identity forms the core of their self-concept. Variations in social identity priorities can sometimes be understated and/or may not always align with external factors because individual and personal experiences profoundly influence Black women’s choices. This study examines how Black women negotiate social identity across racial and cultural contexts and how these negotiations impact their leadership and relational experiences. Utilizing a dual theoretical framework—Tajfel’s Social Identity Theory and Crenshaw’s Intersectionality—the study explores how individuals prioritize and express aspects of their identity in both professional and personal contexts. Findings reveal similarities in how Black women identify themselves; however, when faced with multiple, and contested, social identities, Black women tend to affirm the identity most meaningful to their personal experiences. However, given the strength of similarities in their social identities, there is excellent potential for Black women to explore deeper relationships with each other through intentional social interactions and foregrounding personal identities that undergird the most profound sense of belonging. This may increase understanding and trust in each other and foster more positive intragroup experiences.
Recommended Citation
Baker-Brown, C. (2025). ON THE BORDERS: BLACK WOMEN’S MULTIPLE AND COMPETING SOCIAL IDENTITIES AND EXPECTATIONS, AND THE IMPACT ON THEIR INTRAGROUP LEADERSHIP AND RELATIONAL EXPERIENCES. [Doctoral dissertation, Southeastern University]. FireScholars. https://firescholars.seu.edu/org-lead/54
