Female “Blackademics” and Presentation of Self in the Academy: Managing Role Stressors, Navigating Roadblocks, and Managing Impressions Along Career Trajectories

Participant-Observers Using Autoethnographic Methods

Researchers analyzing phenomena as “participant observers” collect data by participating in the phenomenon being studied. They use this method when they are more interested in understanding a particular phenomenon—as opposed to demonstrating generalizable relationships between variables (Becker, 1958). As such, in this reflexive examination of role stressors, impression management, and best practices, we are “participant observers.”

We chose autoethnography, “a qualitative, reflexive, ethnographic method where the researcher is also the subject of inquiry (Deitering et al., 2017, p. 2).” As we live this experience, we are each observing and reflecting upon our own and each other’s experiences with hopes of gaining insight that might benefit similarly situated female academics, both professorial and administrative. We use pseudonyms or nicknames to refer to individuals being discussed. This convention includes us, whom we refer to as Teddi and Toni. Maintaining third person serves three purposes for us. First, it facilitates our collaboration by making it easy for us to add incidents. Whenever one of us wanted to add an incident, she simply told the story referring to her pseudonym. Second, using different names for ourselves allows the reader to see any intrapersonal patterns within our stories. Finally, this mechanism facilitates our reflection by enabling us to step back from our experiences just far enough to relay our (sometimes quite emotionally laden) stories as neutrally and accurately as we can.

Multiple Roles

Two schools of thought guide studies on multiple roles. Some believe that when individuals occupy multiple roles, they increase their potential for experiencing role stress and negative outcomes. This view is based upon scarcity-- an assumption that our time and energy are finite (Buffardi et al., 1999). In contrast, some believe that holding multiple roles results in us expanding our energy to adapt to the roles to which we’re committed (Marks, 1977). We believe that managing impressions, integrating roles, and nurturing supportive professional friendships can moderate the relationship between role stressors and tenure-track success.