Date of Award
Spring 2018
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Educational Research and Administration
Committee Chair
Lilian H. Hill
Committee Chair Department
Educational Research and Administration
Committee Member 2
Thomas Lipscomb
Committee Member 2 Department
Educational Research and Administration
Committee Member 3
Thomas O'Brien
Committee Member 3 Department
Educational Research and Administration
Committee Member 4
Kyna Shelley
Committee Member 4 Department
Educational Research and Administration
Abstract
African American women born into impoverished families often have difficulty moving beyond their low socioeconomic circumstances (Cozarelli, Wilkinson, & Tagler, 2001). Although education has been shown to influence the lives of African American women, limited research has been conducted relative to the influence of education in their transition from poverty. Also, while there is considerable evidence regarding the authoritative role of spirituality in the lives of women, and for African American women in particular (Mattis, 2002), little research has focused on how African American women utilized spirituality as a source of strength in response to the challenges of poverty. The purpose of this transcendental phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of African American women who were born and reared in impoverished families; yet, these women have transitioned from poverty and function as successful adults. A phenomenological design allowed for a deeper investigation into the stories of 10 participants and provided a deeper understanding of the lived experiences of these women (Moustakas, 1994). Upon completion of face-to-face interviews with each of the study participants, data were analyzed and as a result, nine major themes emerged: (a) Setting Goals; (b) Support Systems; (c) Hard Work and Determination; (d) Opens Doors of Opportunity; (e) Never Give Up; (f) Having a Personal Relation with God/Jesus Christ; (g) Tithing and Giving; (h) Resilience within my own Culture; and (i) Church is Important.
ORCID ID
0000-0002-7312-2813
Copyright
2018, Donna Scott
Recommended Citation
Scott, Donna, "African American Women: The Role of Education, Spirituality, and Resilience in their Transition from Poverty" (2018). Dissertations. 1513.
https://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1513