The Persistence of Black Women in Engineering: A Phenomenological Study

This phenomenological study identified and explored the lived experiences of Black women who are currently employed as engineers. Black women inhabit a "double minority" in engineering based upon their ethnicity and sex. There is scant literature focusing on their experiences, leading some researchers to refer to the "invisibility of women of color" (Malcolm & Malcom, 2011; Tate & Linn, 2005). Critical Race Theory and Intersectionality provided the theoretical framework used in discovering the essence of Black women's experiences in engineering. The findings of this study were uncovered through in-depth interviews and a review of artifacts provided by the five participants. The participants shared their life experiences from their enrollment and matriculation in engineering programs to their successful completion and persistence in the engineering field. While the participants encountered challenges in their undergraduate engineering programs in college and in the engineering profession, nevertheless they remained in the engineering field because of their internal perseverance and resilience built upon their love for and confidence in mathematics and science; their faith and belief in the power of prayer; their strong external support from family, educators, and church communities; their desire to enhance the lives of others through their work in engineering, and their determination to make a difference for future generations of Black women in engineering. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that educators and engineering professionals engage in purposeful reflection to better understand the challenges Black women encounter in engineering education and the profession and make the necessary changes needed to create a climate that is more inclusive of ethnicity and sex.