Faculty Members of Color
What problem or issue is being addressed?
The primary problem or issue addressed in this article is the vicissitudes of members of historic minority groups attempting to maintain careers in academia. Specifically, this article addresses common scenarios that befall members of faculty “of color” (Diggs et al, 2009, p. 312) as they strive to achieve tenure. The authors also consider the effect that gender has on such faculty members. There are frequent comparisons to situations which occur for minorities and women and those which take place between Caucasian men—and the inherent differences which seem to occur because of these demographic dissimilarities. From this perspective, the problem discussed is the effect of race/ethnicity/sex for those involved in academic positions in higher level education.
What are the main research questions?
The main research question is what impact race and ethnicity has for members of historic minority groups attempting to achieve long term faculty positions within scholastic settings. This question is explored within the context of such faculty members engaged in university and collegiate environments in which those of European descent form the majority. The researchers seek to determine what effects the demographic differences have on...
They also hope to ascertain which impediments are present for these faculty members in this sort of environment (Diggs et al, 2009, p. 313).
What theoretical frameworks and methodologies are used? How do they help to illuminate the research question(s) (or not)?
The authors actually deploy multiple methodologies to elucidate the answers to these questions. Firstly, they conduct an extensive literature review to ascertain the findings of previous research on this subject. Next, the authors employ “a self study that presents the experiences of four faculty of color navigating the tenure process in a predominately white Research Institution” (Diggs et al, 2009, p. 313). Significantly, this study and the research it entails is underpinned by Critical Race Theory. Although this theory encompasses a number of different facets, the most significant one to the article is that racism is institutionalized and considered normal in the United States (Diggs et al, 2009, p. 316). The self-study was supported by both group discussions and individual interviews.
What are the main findings? To what extent are they expected or surprising? How so?
The main findings were largely expected. They were that race, ethnicity and…
