Merit, Equity and Intersectionality: Autoethnographic Examination of Perceived Race and Gender-Based Discrimination in the Workplace

This autoethnographic action research dissertation uses intersectionality, critical race theory, and racial battle fatigue theoretical lenses to examine my mental health as I experienced perceived race-based and gender-based discrimination at a public high school on the West Coast of the United States. The goal was to examine how my mental health was impacted during the development and attempted implementation of a DEI plan, and how my mental health was affected by the intersectionality of race and gender. I used journal entries and digital artifacts to craft seven vignettes that captured my experience. The findings from coding and analyzing data showed that my mental health was negatively impacted by perceived race and gender-based discrimination. My implementation plan included an open-door policy, and a meritocracy and diversity initiative. My recommendations for future research included more research on RBF, non-race-based factors that cause poor mental health in teachers of color, and reevaluating equity frameworks within local settings.