Intersection Of Race Research Articles

Mother knows best: how working mothers influence gender and racial differences in educational expectations for graduate school

Educational expectations have increased over time in the United States. Most adolescents expect to earn a bachelor’s degree and a graduate or professional degree. Although past research has generally agreed on the status-attainment perspective to understand educational expectations, these frameworks are limited in terms of the type of parental resources they address, as well as inattention to the intersection of gender and race over time. We address these gaps and investigate variations in youths’ expectations for graduate school by mother’s employment status, gender, and race using Monitoring the Future data from twelfth graders from 1976 to 2019. We find that mother’s employment status positively influences women’s graduate school expectations more than men’s across all racial groups we examine with young Black women holding the highest graduate school expectations. We also find that maternal employment patterns graduate school expectations over time but only for White respondents. Black respondents hold higher expectations, but this trend is stable across maternal employment status.

Black immigrant literacies: Intersections of race, language and culture in the classroom

Black immigrant literacies: Intersections of race, language and culture in the classroom

Optimism and resilience among the precariat: a gendered analysis of community home-based care work in South Africa

ABSTRACT Community Home-Based Care (CHBC) workers around the world have not been satisfied with their work over the years. In South Africa, unfair labor practices and poor organization of CHBC work have recently led to strikes and unionization by caregivers. At the frontline of caregiving are black working-class women whose dominance illuminates how the intersections of gender, class and race contribute to care workers’ precariat position. Regardless of the gendered precarious encounters, the 20 female CHBC workers from Soweto, South Africa, who participated in this study, are optimistic and resilient. This article visibilizes the optimism, resilience, positivity, self-empowerment, control, the gendered power, and agency that care workers exercise in response to the challenges that characterize care work. Beyond merely illuminating the gendered oppositional binaries, the article calls for the deconstruction of gendered hierarchies in care work to disrupt the exclusive participation of women in the global labor markets as care workers.

To CRT (in your Dissertation) or not CRT? That is the Question!

Recently the notion of Critical Race Theory (CRT) has come under fire by those with a limited knowledge of the theoretical underpinnings surrounding the intersection of education, law, and race in American society. To support those students eager to incorporate CRT as a framework within their research, the authors analyzed the dissertations of students receiving Education Doctorates (EdD). The researchers set out to determine how EdD students used CRT, how they framed problems of practice (POP), how they operationalized CRT, and to understand how those former students interrogated their findings in the pursuit of truth. The authors intend for this work to expand the knowledge base on CRT and inform scholarly practitioners on how to operationalize CRT to create sustainable change in the American education system.

Occupational and social mobility of skilled migrants: an intersectional analysis

ABSTRACT Research on skilled migration has grown substantially in recent years. Drawing on 58 in-depth interviews with skilled Americans in China, this paper explores how the intersectionality of race, gender, and citizenship shapes their occupational and social mobility, and whether these two forms of mobility align. The findings suggest that skilled migrants’ social identities simultaneously create both advantages and disadvantages in their occupational and social mobility. I coined the term ‘glass box’ to describe their experiences: while many enjoyed enhanced occupational mobility, they eventually hit a ‘glass ceiling’ that blocked access to top positions and faced ‘glass walls’ that pigeonholed them into a narrow range of occupations. However, their social identities also brought privileges, forming a ‘glass floor’ that protected them from employment precarity. Their social mobility, extending beyond occupational mobility, improved to varying degrees after migration to China but declined rapidly and unexpectedly following the outbreak of COVID-19. While changes to skilled Americans’ occupational and social mobility aligned most of the time, there were notable exceptions where these two forms of mobility shifted in opposite directions. Such contradictory experiences highlight the persistent structural barriers that shape their professional and social trajectories.

Intersectionality of sex and race in COVID-19 mortality and vaccination inequities in Massachusetts

BackgroundInequities in COVID-19 incidence, morbidity, and mortality between racial and ethnic groups in the United States (U.S.) have been documented since the start of the pandemic in early 2020. Similarly, disparities by sex for COVID-19 morbidity and mortality have emerged, with men dying at a higher rate than women. Little research has been done to understand how the intersection of sex and race impacts COVID-19 inequities in Massachusetts (MA). This cross-sectional study examined how COVID-19 mortality rates (February 2020- May 2023) and vaccination rates (December 2020-February 2023) varied by sex across racial groups in MA.MethodsUsing Massachusetts Department of Public Health data of all COVID-19 mortality cases and primary series vaccinations in MA from 2020 to 2023, we calculated both age-specific and age-adjusted COVID-19 mortality rates in order to account for differences in age distributions across sex-race groups.ResultsOverall, men across all age-race groups consistently had a higher mortality rate compared to their female counterparts. The age-standardized mortality rate difference between White men and White women is the smallest, with the rate for White men being 1.3 times higher than White women. The age-standardized mortality rate between Hispanic men and Hispanic women varies the largest, with the rate for Hispanic men being 1.7 times higher than Hispanic women. Notably, Black women and White women have similar vaccination rates, yet the age-standardized mortality rate for Black women is 1.4 times the rate of White women.ConclusionsOur findings show that there are disparities at the intersection of sex and race for COVID-19 mortality and vaccination in MA. This highlights the importance for targeted COVID-19 interventions at the intersection of sex and race and the need for detailed COVID-19 reporting by sex within race groups.

Transcript: The Intersection of Race and Poverty in Criminal Justice

Transcript: The Intersection of Race and Poverty in Criminal Justice

Migrant housing struggle and racial discrimination: The case of postsocialist Leipzig and Riga

The civic mobilisation welcoming Ukrainian refugees after Russia’s invasion in February 2022 has shown how housing is a social infrastructure based on care and solidarity. But it has also shown its discriminatory face. By drawing on our recent collaborative research in Leipzig and Riga and conceptual reflections from previous research, this paper elaborates on how practices of welcoming and housing refugees intertwine with state racism and everyday discrimination. It is grounded in two intersecting lines of inquiry. The first one focuses on migrant housing struggles in the context of increased financialisation, privatisation and austerity urbanism. The second expands on the intersection of race and discrimination with housing, asking how race and racial discrimination intersect and affect migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers’ access to and experiences with housing. The underlying argument is that while housing is the site where this type of discrimination becomes spatialised and visible (and thus can be challenged), there is still a missing discourse around discrimination in migration and housing policy.

White Christian nationalism in Black education: Breaking bread at the kitchen table

This kitchen table dialogue brings together two scholars, one Black woman assistant professor and one white male doctoral student, unified in our research interests in the history of Black education and our faith as Christians. We gathered on the Zoom video conferencing platform to “break bread,” engaging in a cultural and spiritual tradition to share and commune with each other. The purpose of the kitchen table talk was to discuss the current state of white Christian nationalism (WCN) and how it has been foundational to the structure and establishment of U.S. schools. We explicitly explore its implications on Black education across time and offer critical theoretical perspectives and liberatory theological insights. We are hopeful that this discourse furthers critical conversations, teaching, and scholarship at the intersections of education, race, and religion that move U.S. education toward constructing educational structures that recognize the sacred nature of our work and care for the spirit and souls of all students.

The Influence of Prenatal Vitamin use and Community Health Programs on Reducing Teratogenic Medication Exposure and Improving Perinatal Nutrition among African American Adolescents with Limited Access to Healthcare

This review paper examines the critical influence of prenatal vitamin use and community health programs on reducing teratogenic medication exposure and improving perinatal nutrition among African American adolescents with limited access to healthcare. African American adolescents face disproportionate barriers to healthcare access, including socioeconomic challenges and systemic healthcare inequities, which contribute to heightened risks of teratogenic exposure and poor prenatal nutrition. The paper explores the role of prenatal vitamins such as folic acid, iron, and calcium in preventing congenital disabilities and enhancing maternal health. It also highlights the impact of community-based health programs and education initiatives that aim to bridge healthcare gaps for vulnerable populations. By focusing on adolescent pregnancy in African American communities, this review identifies key challenges such as limited healthcare access, inadequate educational resources, and socio-economic constraints. Furthermore, the paper assesses the effectiveness of current health interventions and policies, offering recommendations for improving healthcare access and expanding community programs. The review underscores the necessity for long-term research to address gaps in the intersection of race, adolescent health, and prenatal care, ultimately aiming to inform policy and program development that promotes equitable maternal and fetal health outcomes.

From assimilation to alienation: exploring the career trajectories of women of color leaders and the coping strategies used

PurposeThis qualitative study explores the career trajectories of women of color (WOC) leaders through the “From Assimilation to Alienation” framework, building upon Thomas et al.’s (2013) “Pet to Threat” work and incorporating intersectionality and the Stereotype Content Model. By examining 71 WOC leaders across various industries and racial groups (Black, East Asian, Latina and South Asian), this study aims to uncover the challenges, coping strategies they employ and the nuanced variations in their career experiences. The findings seek to inform organizational practices and DEI interventions in workplaces and leadership positions by considering the complex interplay of race, gender and stereotypes in corporate environments.Design/methodology/approachThis qualitative study employs an interpretivist paradigm, featuring semi-structured interviews with 71 WOC leaders (18 Black, 18 East Asian, 17 Latina and 18 South Asian) from various industries, including Fortune 10 to 500 companies. Participants were purposively sampled based on leadership roles and racial backgrounds. Virtual interviews lasted approximately 60 min each. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, focusing on predefined themes from the “From Assimilation to Alienation” framework while allowing for new themes to emerge. This approach enabled the exploration of participants' experiences, challenges and coping strategies within their corporate environments.FindingsThe findings reveal that WOC leaders experience a trajectory “From Assimilation to Alienation,” with nuanced variations across racial groups. Initially, they face tokenism, overlooked competencies and patronization. As they challenge the status quo, they encounter alienation, professional legitimacy challenges and insufficient recognition. Black women leaders face the most adverse experiences, followed by South Asian, Latina and East Asian leaders. Isolation emerges as a persistent theme across racial groups and career tenures. WOC leaders employ coping strategies such as demonstrating high work proficiency, relying on merit, utilizing diplomacy and setting boundaries when facing adversity.Research limitations/implicationsThis study’s limitations include a focus on specific racial groups (Black, East Asian, Latina and South Asian), excluding white women and other diverse groups. It also does not explore intersectionalities such as religion, sexual orientation and age. However, the “From Assimilation to Alienation” framework developed in this study provides a foundation for future research to examine how multiple intersectionalities impact work and leadership experiences across a broader range of diverse groups.Practical implicationsThe findings of this study provide valuable insights into the unique challenges faced by WOC leaders, highlighting the need for organizations to develop targeted interventions that address the “From Assimilation to Alienation” trajectory. Leadership training programs should incorporate modules that raise awareness about the experiences of WOC leaders and provide tools to assess and mitigate the adverse effects of tokenism, isolation and professional legitimacy challenges. These modules should also emphasize the importance of recognizing and rewarding the contributions of WOC leaders. By fostering a deeper understanding of the experiences of this group and providing practical strategies for support and inclusion, organizations can create a more equitable and inclusive leadership landscape that harnesses the full potential of diverse talent.Originality/valueThis study extends the Pet to Threat theory (Thomas et al., 2013) by exploring the “From Assimilation to Alienation” experiences of women of color leaders in corporate environments, integrating intersectionality and the Stereotype Content Model. Examining leaders from four racial groups (Black, East Asian, Latina and South Asian) provides a nuanced understanding of their challenges and coping strategies. The findings offer insights for organizations promoting DEI in leadership, highlighting the need for targeted interventions. This research contributes to the limited literature on career trajectories of this underrepresented group and lays the foundation for future studies on intersectionality of race, gender and leadership in the workplace.

23 Probing bias: Understanding the experiences of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) caregivers for children with developmental disabilities and their involvement with child protection

Abstract Background In Canada and abroad, a disproportionate number of Black Indigenous and Persons of Colour (BIPOC) experience referral to child protective services (CPS). Children with developmental disabilities, including Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and intellectual disabilities (IDD), are also disproportionately CPS-involved. Recent Canadian research has suggested that almost a quarter of children from a complex care paediatric program are CPS-involved, however there is no known research for ASD/IDD populations seen in a general paediatric clinic. Further, intersections of race/ethnicity and ASD/IDD and CPS involvement have not been examined. Objectives We are conducting a mixed methods study to explore the intersections of race, developmental disabilities and involvement with CPS for our paediatric population. Design/Methods Phase 1: We completed a retrospective cohort study of 349 patients (0-18 years of age) who were seen by a paediatrician and social worker at a large, hospital-based paediatric clinic in Toronto, Canada in 2019. Electronic medical record data was reviewed and the following binary variables (yes/no) coded CPS-involved or referral made, 1+ caregiver identify as BIPOC, and primary language of caregiver(s) not English. Results Preliminary analyses indicate that 11.7% of our sample is CPS-involved. Contrary to over-representation of BIPOC families in the general CPS population, we found that the proportion of families involved with CPS was lower for BIPOC than non-BIPOC families. A similar pattern was observed for primary language, with a trend towards caregivers who reported English as a second language being less likely to be CPS-involved. In our presentation, we will present analyses regarding the type and intensity of CPS involvement and include other demographic characteristics of the family. These findings will be interpreted with findings from Phase 2 (currently underway), which explores lived experiences of 40 caregivers involved with CPS drawn from Phase 1. Conclusion Within an ASD/IDD patient sample, BIPOC families were less likely to be involved with CPS than non-BIPOC families. This finding is in stark contrast to provincial rates that suggest a 2.2 times greater likelihood of CPS-involvement for Black youth. While these results on the surface suggest equity, they may still reflect bias. It is possible that the concerns of BIPOC families are being downplayed in comparison to non-BIPOC families, reducing their access to supportive services.

A Novel Time Use Approach on Daily Active Engagement with Life: The Intersectionality of Race and Gender.

Active engagement with life (AE) is an integral aspect of successful aging. Using time diary data, this study explored how U.S. older adults structure their daily lives involving social participation and productive engagement, and the extent to which these patterns differ by race and gender. We used American Time Use Survey (ATUS) data (n = 17,990) and sequence and cluster analyses to identify distinctive daily AE patterns. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate associations between AE patterns and self-rated health, and the moderating roles of race and gender. Five AE clusters were identified: Low Degree of AE (26%), Moderate Unpaid Work & Light Social Participation (39%), Persistent Unpaid Work (20%), Persistent Paid Work (10%), and Persistent Social Participation (4%). White women were the most likely and Black men the least likely to have any AE. Compared to "Low Degree of AE", all other AE clusters were associated with better self-rated health, with these associations varying by gender and race. The strongest positive association was observed for "Persistent Paid Work", especially among women. Racial differences in the association between AE and health were more prominent among women than men. Differences by AE were less pronounced among Black women in comparison to White women. We found that the association between AE and self-rated health varies by race and gender. Persistent structural barriers may prevent older adults from historically minoritized backgrounds, particularly Black women, from benefiting from AE.

Depo-Provera, Class, Race, and the Domiciliary Family Planning Services in Glasgow and Haringey, 1970–1983

Abstract In 1976, the Committee of Safety of Medicines (CSM) in Britain authorized the contraceptive injectable Depo-Provera (DP) for short-term use and for two main reasons only: if a woman had received a rubella vaccine or if her partner had just undergone a vasectomy. Although officially authorized on restricted grounds only, the drug appears to have been widely prescribed by doctors of the Domiciliary Family Planning Services (DFPS). This article takes the prescription of DP in the DFPS of Haringey, a multiracial neighbourhood in London, and Glasgow as a comparative case-study to explore the intersections of medical authority, race, and class. Drawing on the archives of the Wellcome Collection, London, and the NHS Archives of the Mitchell Library in Glasgow, we show that the DFPS offered the ideal setting to test and prescribe Depo-Provera widely. In the hands of the medical profession, the drug at times became a tool of violence towards women from disadvantaged backgrounds. In doing so, we contribute to the wider, global history of DP, and illustrate how racist, classist, and ableist prejudices could shape family planning services in the British context.

"If I Stay Quiet, the Only Person That Gets Hurt Is Me": Anti-Asian Racism and the Mental Health of Chinese-Canadian Youth During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Despite documented accounts of racial discrimination against Chinese communities during the COVID-19 pandemic, few studies have examined experiences of racism among Canadian youth. This qualitative study explored the experiences of Chinese-Canadian youth during the COVID-19 pandemic and their mental health. A qualitative descriptive research design, informed by Critical Race Theory (CRT), was used for this study. Data was collected using focus groups and image-based elicitation methods. Youth who self-identified as Chinese-Canadian, aged 18-24, and who experienced some account of self-defined racism were included. We analyzed the data using a coding system developed for this study and formulated key themes. Our analysis identified three themes: (I) Becoming racialized; (II) Learning the rules of racism; and (III) Effects of racism on mental health. We discuss findings in relation to the model minority stereotype, intersectionality of race and gender, and factors leading to a lack of support. This study provides evidence that racism had immediate and prolonged effects on the mental health of Chinese-Canadian youth and their relationships with peers, family, and even strangers. Our research suggests the need for enhanced services for Chinese-Canadian youth and other groups experiencing racism.

Seven million tweets of violence: gendered analysis of Black women representation on social media platforms

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the gendered linguistic patterns of tweets discussing state-sanctioned and vigilante violence against African American women. The paper considers representations of Black women and Black death as engaged on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. We utilize the theoretical frameworks of Patricia Hill Collins’ (2022. Black Feminist Thought, 30th Anniversary Edition: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment. London: Taylor & Francis) conceptualization of Black feminist epistemology and controlling images and Kimberle Crenshaw’s (2018. “Demarginalizing the Intersection of Race and sex: A Black Feminist Critique of Antidiscrimination Doctrine, Feminist Theory, and Antiracist Politics [1989].” Feminist Legal Theory 1: 57–80) intersectionality to understand the ways that Black women are discussed, remembered and advocated for on social media platforms in relation to their Black men counterparts. The analysis of over seven million tweets utilizes both qualitative content analysis and computational tools. The paper’s findings concluded that there were differences related to passive and active language based on the gender of the victim of state-sanctioned or vigilante-race-based violence, as well as homophily, specifically name events most frequently used within the context of the state-sanctioned killing of Black women versus Black men.

A Moral Dilemma of “Selling Out”: Race, Class, and Career Considerations among Elite College Students

Abstract Research on occupational choice focuses on individualistic work values and emphasizes economic returns. Drawing from 62 in-depth interviews with Asian, Black, and White first-generation, low-income (FGLI), and middle-class students at an elite university, I argue that students’ career decisions comprise a moral dimension. How students contended with this dimension varied based on the intersection of their racial and class backgrounds. Specifically, patterns broadly align with two categories: contingent objections to certain high-prestige, high-paying careers arising from individual priorities or concern for social good, and linked obligations to broader collectivities, such as ethnoracial groups or families. While students across all racial and class backgrounds raised objections based on different individual priorities, FGLI students primarily mentioned objections based on the value of social good. Across class backgrounds, Asian and Black students more often cited obligations based on ethnoracial uplift compared to their White peers. Asian and Black FGLI students prioritized family contributions more strongly than their White FGLI counterparts. Paradoxically, some students used these evaluative logics to justify “selling out” in pursuit of high-prestige, high-paying jobs, whereas others used these justifications to reject them. This study furthers understanding of the cultural processes behind social inequalities and highlights how the intersection of race and class shapes moral understandings.

Leading for Equity and Inclusion at the Intersections of Disability and Race: A Call to Action Through Interdisciplinary Engagement

In this special issue, we asked contributing authors to identify complex and intersectional equity concerns in special education and to tie those concerns to leadership and to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Our goal was to create teaching cases that could empower aspiring and current leaders with the knowledge and skills necessary to support and promote social change and justice for students with disabilities at their intersections. Each case situates the enactment of the IDEA within a local context, allowing readers to understand how the interaction between leadership, IDEA, and intersectional equity concerns relate. Throughout the special issue, we encourage readers to move beyond compliance with IDEA, to engage with intersectional and expansive equity approaches, and to address both ableism and racism.

Exploring the intersectionality of race and gender on the incidence of and response to microaggression experienced by Asian American women medical students

BackgroundDiscrimination faced by Asian American trainees in medical school include those reported by female trainees. This study aims to characterize the microaggressions faced by Asian American woman medical students. MethodsWe use a mixed methods approach to characterize the experiences of Asian Americans in United States (US) medical schools through an anonymous online survey and participation in focus groups. ResultsAmong our 305 participants, 65.9 ​% were women. More women experienced microaggressions than men (p ​< ​0.001). Compared to men, women reported significantly higher rates of supervisors having higher expectations of them, implying they were submissive, and describing them as too quiet. Women felt that their experiences with microaggressions were entangled with being Asian and a woman, but could not distinguish which identity was being targeted. ConclusionThe intersectionality of being Asian American and a woman in medical training has not been explored. We found that this duality intensified experiences of microaggressions.

The Distribution of Carceral Harm: County-Level Jail Incarceration and Mortality by Race, Sex, and Age

Jail incarceration remains an overlooked yet crucial component of the U.S. carceral system. Although a growing literature has examined the mortality costs associated with residing in areas with high levels of incarceration, far less is known about how local jails shape this burden at the intersection of race, sex, and age. In this study, I examine the relationship between county-level jail incarceration and age-specific mortality for non-Hispanic Black and White men and women, uniquely leveraging race-specific jail rates to account for the unequal racial distribution of jail exposures. This study finds evidence of positive associations between mortality and jail incarceration: this association peaks in late adulthood (ages 50–64), when increases in jail rates are associated with roughly 3% increases in mortality across all race–sex groups. However, patterns vary at the intersection of race, sex, and age. In particular, I find more marked and consistent penalties among women than among men. Additionally, a distinctly divergent age pattern emerges among Black men, who face insignificant but negative associations at younger ages but steep penalties at older ages—significantly larger among those aged 65 or older relative to their White male and Black female counterparts. Evidence further suggests that the use of race-neutral incarceration measures in prior work may mask the degree of harm associated with carceral contexts, because the jail rate for the total population underestimates the association between jail rates and mortality across nearly all race–age–sex combinations. These findings highlight the need for future ecological research to differentiate between jail and prison incarceration, consider the demographic distribution of incarceration's harms, and incorporate racialized measures of exposure so that we may better capture the magnitude of harm associated with America's carceral state.