Award Date

12-1-2020

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Teaching and Learning

First Committee Member

Christine Clark

Second Committee Member

Norma Marrun

Third Committee Member

Steven Bickmore

Fourth Committee Member

Stefani Relles

Fifth Committee Member

Bruce Phillips

Number of Pages

196

Abstract

The exploration of female professionals’ experiences within the realm of higher education is steadily increasing, yet researchers have yet to analyze, much less include, Jewish women. Following a qualitative intrinsic case study approach, this study assesses the lived experiences of ten white Jewish women professionals to better understand how they engage in the world of higher education differently than their non-Jewish counterparts. Using racial formation theory and intersectional analysis as theoretical frameworks, the research examined the current and historical literature on Jewish identity, the role of Jews and Jewish women in higher education, and the relevant methodological research. The study discovered that Jewish women higher education professionals (a) identify racially white based on the current socio-political landscape; (b) the participant’s intersectional identities impact their professional identity; (c) four strategies were identified by the professionals to navigate academia. Additionally, the research provides recommendations to better support Jewish women professionals in the field, thus helping to inform institutional policies and practices in postsecondary education. As a result, this examination fills a much-needed gap in the literature providing a basis of knowledge for future scholars to explore this phenomenon.

Keywords

Higher Education; Identity; Intersectional Analysis; Racial Formation Theory; Women Professionals

Disciplines

Education | Gender and Sexuality | Women's Studies

File Format

pdf

File Size

1400 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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