“Two Totally Different People”: Dissonance of Intersecting Identities in White College Women

Abstract

This phenomenological study explored the intersecting privileged (racial) and oppressed (gender) identities of eight White college women. Through three interviews, this study aimed to understand how the participants experience socially conflicting identities. Findings indicated that the participants felt more connected to their gender than their race. In addition, participants experienced dissonance when considering how their gender and racial identities work to form a holistic self. Implications for student affairs research and practice are shared.