Women, Gender, and Families of Color Special Issue: Care Work for Communities of Color in Higher Education: Reimagining Professional Pathways and Well-Being
Due Date: 09-29-2024
New and Old Challenges for Communities of Color in Higher Education
Academic communities are not immune from national politics, global economies, cultural shifts or social issues. In this past year in the United States, members of diverse learning and work environments have been challenged by ruptures confronting the broader society—legal assaults on affirmative action, DEI, women’s reproductive health and voting rights, the United States Supreme Court’s recent curtailment of the power of federal agencies to maintain health and safety regulations, and international conflicts, to name a few. While these issues present problems for the United States and global landscape, they are yet another wave of the persistent social and economic inequities that historical racial and ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ populations, and people with disabilities have long experienced relative to majority groups.
The current social, cultural, political, and economic landscape demands greater “care and well-being” among new and established scholars, staff, administrators, and graduate students of color across academic communities. This moment demands a fostering of community among and between the various groups. It is highly imperative that we establish practices of generosity for issues such as negotiation of work and life balance, isolation and aloneness, distrust of policies and practices, and uncertainty about the future demand that we recognize and cherish our shared experiences. This call is an invitation to submit reflective essays that offer experience and guidance to peers and colleagues as they navigate these and other circumstances of academic life.
Reflective Essays: What We Are Looking For
We are soliciting contributions to a special issue that can expand a “care and well-being toolkit” for communities of color in higher education. We seek essays from scholars, professional staff, and administrators across academic disciplinary lines, types of colleges and universities, and the range of university actor categories. This special issue is a departure from the peer-reviewed manuscripts that generally represent the content of Women, Gender, and Families of Color. We encourage contributions that reflect on the identities and personal experiences of authors as well as essays that offer guidance on topics related to elements of learning, work, and engagement in higher education.
Length: 1,250–2,500 words (5–10 double-spaced pages), Word document only
Deadline for submission: 29 September 2024
Submit manuscript to jenniferhamer@psu.edu and include the following text in the email subject line “Your Name-Special Issue on Care Work” (e.g., Hamer-Special Issue on Care Work). To view the full call for papers, visit the journal’s website.