Investigating experiences of a Black woman in physics and astronomy

Abstract

This research focuses on the experiences of physics and astronomy graduate women of color. We conducted semi-structured, empathetic interviews to understand their experiences in their graduate program and how they navigate the physics department at a large research university, which is a predominantly white institution. The interviews are guided by critical race theory (CRT). We use CRT to examine how racial identities play a role in the obstacles faced by these women, including interactions with peers and faculty members. In this paper, we focus on the experiences of a Black woman in physics, Linda, to understand how her marginalized identities affected her experiences in physics during her undergraduate and graduate programs. The themes that emerged from Linda’s interview include lack of support, more than just doing physics, and persistence in physics.