In solitary confinement: The constrained identities, spaces and voices of Black women criminologists in post-apartheid South Africa

Abstract

abstract Change and transformation at South African universities has occurred at a slow pace, with racism and sexism persisting. Despite new frameworks being created and policies being restructured to better address concerns of equality and transformation, women remain marginalised and underrepresented in academia, including in the discipline of Criminology. There continues to be a lack of visibility of Black women in the discipline despite an increase in their enrolment for doctoral programmes. Limited research exists that examines how bias inherent in the discipline affects marginalised scholars, particularly Black women. To address this issue, this study makes use of feminist decoloniality and intersectionality frameworks to explore the experiences of 11 female criminologists. Feminist decoloniality emphasises the importance of examining the intersectionality of race and gender within the context of academia. In utilising feminist decoloniality and intersectionality, the research seeks not only to challenge the persisting biases and inequalities, but also to amplify the voices and experiences of Black women criminologists and bring attention to the obstacles they face, including feelings of otherness and exclusion. Black criminologists’ experiences include, among others, discrimination, ageism, exclusion, and insufficient academic and research mentoring. The study aims to contribute to broader efforts to create more inclusive and equitable academic environments and address historical and continuing legacies of colonialism and patriarchal systems.