Sense of Self

I interviewed African American, Asian American, Latinx, and American Indian women university presidents and provosts and asked them how they were able to advance to their senior-level positions. They said they benefited from their parents telling them to disregard external influences and to listen to internal knowledge of their sense of self. Cultivating a strong sense of self, women of color were able to manage the discrimination they faced in academe due to racism, sexism, language bias, and homophobia. In addition, their partners and spouses instilled encouragement and recognition of their abilities which boosted their confidence to apply for senior-level positions.