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Publication Date

2024-5

First Advisor

Patricia Marten DiBartolo

Document Type

Honors Project

Study Type

Qualitative

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Psychology

Keywords

perfectionism, women of color, scholars, professors, gender, race, resistance, empowerment, intersectionality, critical race psychology

Abstract

Perfectionism does not have a clear-cut definition, but the most well known features include the setting of inordinately high standards for oneself, accompanied by overly critical evaluative tendencies (Frost et al., 1990). A counter narrative to the perfectionism literature writ large is Okun’s (2021) assertion that perfectionism is both a tool of, and inseparable from, White supremacist culture. Women of Color in the academy are largely absent from the perfectionism literature. On the whole, perfectionism research has excluded Women of Color, and perfectionism research within academia has typically focused on students. This study asks the question, in what ways do acts of resistance and empowerment interface with perfectionism in Women of Color in the academy? This research explores the ways in which Women of Color experience perfectionism within the academy; investigates the acts of resistance and empowerment in which Women of Color engage; and examines how these acts of resistance and empowerment interface with perfectionism. To answer this question, I conducted Inductive Thematic Analysis, using complete coding, to categorize textual data from Presumed incompetent II: Race, Class, Power, and Resistance of Women in Academia (2020) into overarching themes. Analysis of these themes suggests that White supremacist culture is expressed through other oriented perfectionism perpetrated by the academy, impacting Women of Color in ways that cause mental, emotional, and physical harm, with negative career effects. The results also demonstrate that Women of Color derive benefit from acts of resistance and empowerment against White supremacist culture/other-oriented perfectionism, although these benefits do not abrogate the negative effects of perfectionism. These results suggest that for Women of Color in the academy, acts of perceived perfectionism may arise in response to demands from the environment, rather than upbringing or personality.

Rights

©2024 Margaret Schwarz. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Comments

65 pages : color illustrations. Includes bibliographical references (pages 39-44).

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