WOMEN, GENDER AND FAMILIES OF COLOR — CALL FOR PAPERS
Care Work for Communities of Color in Higher Education: Reimagining Professional Pathways and Well- Being
New and Old Challenges for Communities of Color in Higher Education
Academic communities are not immune from national politics, global economies, cultural shifts or social issues. In this past year in the US, members of diverse learning and work environments have been challenged by ruptures confronting the broader society—legal assaults on affirmative action, DEI, women’s reproductive health and voting rights, the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent curtailment of the power of federal agencies to maintain health and safety regulations, and international conflicts, to name a few. While these issues present problems for the US and global landscape, they are yet another wave of the persistent social and economic inequities that historical racial/ethnic minorities, LGBTQ+ populations, and people with disabilities have long experienced relative to majority groups.
The current social, cultural, political and economic landscape demands greater “care and well-being” among new and established scholars, staff, administrators, and graduate students of color across academic communities. This moment demands a fostering of community among and between the various groups. It is highly imperative that we establish practices of generosity for issues such as negotiation of work and life balance, isolation and aloneness, distrust of policies and practices, and uncertainty about the future demand that we recognize and cherish our shared experiences. This call is an invitation to submit reflective essays that offer experience and guidance to peers and colleagues as they navigate these and other circumstances of academic life.
Reflective Essays: What We Are Looking For
We are soliciting contributions to a special issue that can expand a “Care and Well-Being Toolkit” for communities of color in higher education. We seek essays from scholars, professional staff, and administrators across academic disciplinary lines, types of colleges and universities, and the range of university actor categories. This special issue is a departure from the peer-reviewed manuscripts that generally represent the content of WGFC. We encourage contributions that reflect on the identities and personal experiences of authors as well as essays that offer guidance on topics related to elements of learning, work, and engagement in higher education.
MANUSCRIPT SUBMISSIONS
Length/word count: 1250 – 2500 words (5-10 double-spaced pages), word document only
Deadline for submission: September 29, 2024
Submit manuscript to: jenniferhamer@psu.edu and include the following text in the email subject line
“Your Name–Special Issue on Care Work” (example: Hamer-Special Issue on Care Work)
Editors
Jennifer Hamer (co-editor)
Professor of African American Studies, Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies and Director, Midcareer Faculty Advancement Program at Pennsylvania State University, and professional academic career coach
Ayesha Hardison (co-editor)
Susan D. Gubar Chair of Literature Professor, Indiana University and Director, History of Black Writing
Suleyman Bolukbas (assistant editor)
Graduate Student, Comparative Literature and Women’s, Gender and Sexuality Studies Pennsylvania State University
For more information about Women, Gender and Families of Color visit the website at University of Illinois Press.
