When care trumps justice: the operationalization of Black feminist caring in educational leadership

Abstract

In this study, I discuss the benefits of Black feminist caring (BFC) in educational leadership. I suggest that the ethic of care in educational leadership is a manifestation of strength when serving disadvantaged student populations. This article is based on a qualitative, exploratory, multicase study that examines the ethic of care in the leadership of five African-American women serving in various capacities of educational leadership. This study employs a BFC framework because the women in this study were selected because of their reputation for caring and addresses the following guiding question: how do the African-American women educational leaders in this study operationalize caring? Findings in this study indicate that caring African-American women educational leaders display the characteristics of BFC. Their experience of marginalization stirs empathy and encourages them toward an activist leadership style. As such, they are compelled to act as other mothers and activist risk-takers in their roles as educational leaders.

Keywords:

• ethic of care
• Black feminist caring
• African-American women educational leaders
• urban education

Notes

1. Womanism or womanist is used interchangeably with Black feminist thought.

2. A pseudonym.

3. A pseudonym.