Prior and Current Experiences of Black Girls in Advanced Biology High School Courses: A Phenomenological Study

This phenomenological study explored the prior and current experiences of six Black girls in Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) high school biology courses and how these experiences shaped their visions of science and their futures in the field. Grounded in the framework of Intersectionality (Collins & Blige, 2020), this study illustrated how advanced Black girls’ unique experiences were shaped by their multiple social identities and analyzed through the lens of the four domains of power to reveal the intersections of power and oppression. Data were collected over a four-week period and analyzed using Colaizzi’s (1978) seven-step method. Three overarching findings emerged (1) Black girls’ persistence in science is driven by determination, hands-on learning, and support from key educational stakeholders; (2) supportive relationships, academic rigor, and underrepresentation cultivate a heightened sense of responsibility and pursuit of excellence; and (3) advanced science courses offer valuable opportunities, yet racial, gendered, and structural barriers remain as Black girls actively strive toward the "American Dream." This study uplifts the voices of Black girls in advanced science courses and highlights the need for more inviting and nurturing science learning spaces. These findings have the potential to contribute to literature on the science learning experiences of Black girls in advanced science classes with implications for science educators, school leaders and policymakers.