Chapter 9: Uplifting Counter-Narratives: The Experiences of Women of Color Student Affairs Professionals Teaching in White Classrooms

As women of color, we experience microaggressions on a regular basis at the intersections of our racial, gender, and other marginalized identities. These experiences of racism, sexism, and other forms of oppression do not remain isolated to our personal lives—they impact our work as student affairs professionals. For women of color student affairs professionals who work in predominantly or historically White colleges, issues and dynamics related to intersectional identities are often magnified. Additionally, for new and entry-level student affairs practitioners who also teach, the challenges they face in the classroom may be new and unexplored, requiring additional support in their navigation.