A Seat At The Table: Womanist Narratives of Black Mothers in Doctoral Programs

Often the monolithic notion of being a Black woman silences how diverse groups of Black women experience the academy and dissertation process, especially those who are pursuing the doctorate while mothering. This paper focuses on the narratives of three Black women, who share how their racial, gender and mothering identities, and roles associated with these identities, affected their journey to the doctorate. This work is shaped by Womanist Theory, and the researchers use methodological tools centered on Black women, such as Sister-to-Sister talks Participants share how the intersection of their identities informs their research agenda, and why their commitment to completing the doctoral journey was fueled despite the challenges each experienced.