Race Matters: Midlife, Black Female Doctoral Students Navigating Racial Undercurrents

The purpose of this phenomenological study was to examine the experiences of midlife, Black, female doctoral students. The overarching question guiding this study was: What meanings did midlife, Black, female doctoral students attach to their doctoral experiences? Data were collected from nine participants using in-depth semi-structured interviews and critical incident reflections. As this study was concerned with examining the experiences of midlife. Black, female doctoral students and how the intersection of these three locations impacted the doctoral experience, a conceptual framework incorporating Black feminist thought and intersectionality was also used in order to analyze the phenomenon. Participants were selected from various institutions and from a diverse group of programs. Findings suggest that as older Black women, these doctoral students were subject to different academic and social expectations that influenced their doctoral journey. This study contributes to the limited body of research on older Black women in higher education and gives institutions strategies for supporting this population.