Presumed Incompetent: The Intersections of Race and Class for Women in Academia; INTRODUCTION

What is it about?

Presumed Incompetent is a path-breaking account of the intersecting roles of race, gender, and class in the working lives of women faculty of color. Through personal narratives and qualitative empirical studies, more than 40 authors expose the daunting challenges faced by academic women of color as they navigate the often hostile terrain of higher education, including hiring, promotion, tenure, and relations with students, colleagues, and administrators. The narratives are filled with wit, wisdom, and concrete recommendations, and provide a window into the struggles of professional women in a racially stratified but increasingly multicultural America. The downloadable document contains the Introduction to Presumed Incompetent co-authored by Angela P. Harris and Carmen G. Gonzalez. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=2017249

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Why is it important?

This book offers a window into the persistent bias encountered by female faculty of color as well as strategies to survive and thrive. The introduction sets the stage by identifying several interrelated themes through which the chapters explore the presumption of incompetence. The final chapter contains concrete recommendations for women of color, allies, and academic leaders.