Description

Get Somebody Else To Do It: Mitigating Racial Battle Fatigue for Black Women in Student Affairs

Racial Battle Fatigue (RBF) is a term coined to describe the cumulative emotional, psychological, and physical toll experienced by individuals from marginalized racial groups due to persistent encounters with racism and discrimination. In the workplace, Black women often face a mentally taxing array of obstacles to success and a sense of belonging. They endure the policing of their existence and tokenization while also contending with the stereotype that they must be everything to everyone without prioritizing their own well-being.

Within the realm of student affairs, Black women encounter additional hurdles that exacerbate RBF, negatively impacting both their personal wellness and professional effectiveness. This presentation addresses the pressing question: How can the field of student affairs be transformed to alleviate the impact of RBF on Black women? By delving into the existing literature on Black women in student affairs and using Black Feminist Thought and intersectionality as theoretical frameworks, this presentation sheds light on how the workplace is a source of RBF.

It proposes implementing Identity-conscious supervision as a strategy to mitigate RBF for Black women in student affairs. This approach involves reforming supervision practices and fostering a more inclusive organizational culture.

The presentation will culminate in a discussion of key insights and recommendations, exploring the potential application of these concepts beyond student affairs, particularly within the field of social work. By taking proactive steps to recognize and address the unique challenges Black women professionals face, organizations can move toward creating more equitable and supportive environments for all individuals.

Learning Objectives:

1. Explore the unique challenges faced by Black women professionals within the student affairs context, including the intersectionality of race and gender and the theoretical connection to Black Feminist Thought.
2. Examine the literature on Identity-conscious supervision and its potential efficacy in mitigating RBF for Black women in student affairs.
3. Provide practical strategies and tools for transforming supervision practices and organizational culture to be more inclusive and supportive of Black women professionals.

Delivery Method: Live Interactive Training via Zoom Video Conferencing

Credit Hours: 1.0 (ACE)

Target Audience: This conference is intended for social workers and students.

 

Accreditation: University of Kentucky College of Social Work, Provider # 1377, is approved as an ACE provider to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. ACE provider approval period: 9/29/22-9/29/25. Social workers participating in this conference will receive up to 15 general continuing education credits.

Claiming CE Credit: Instructions for claiming CE credit will be disseminated at the beginning of each session.

Questions: If you have any questions regarding CE credit or to report a grievance, please contact Melissa Whitaker at melissa.whitaker@uky.edu. For technical assistance, please contact lmshelp@uky.edu.