Things are Not as Rosy as They Seem: Psychosocial Issues of Contemporary Black College Women

Abstract

Black women's participation in postsecondary education appears to have improved drastically because they are outpacing many other minority cultural groups (i.e., Black men, Hispanic men and women, Asian men and women, etc.) in terms of college enrollment and completion rates. However, when compared to White men and women, it is obvious that there are a variety of factors that continue to perpetuate Black women's underrepresentation and attrition in higher education. This article examines some of the psychosocial issues that diminish the psychological and physical health of young Black college women and impede their success in college. Black feminist thought provides a theoretical framework that elucidates the interconnectedness of race and gender issues faced by today's Black college women. Implications for Student Affairs practice are discussed and recommendations for further research are offered.