Invisibility/Hypervisibility paradox for Black women navigating the nursing academic environment

Abstract

The invisibility/hypervisibility paradox is Black women's complex and often contradictory experiences in the workplace. In nursing academia, Black women find themselves simultaneously experiencing invisibility and hypervisibility. This paper delves into how the paradox shows up in academic nursing. The paper's objectives are threefold: (a) to dissect the dynamics of whiteness, gender, and class within nursing education perpetuating the invisibility/hypervisibility paradox; (b) to elucidate the concept of intersectionality and the matrix of domination informing this paradox; and (c) propose strategies for Black nursing faculty to resist oppression, mitigate the paradox, and thrive in academic settings. We used high-profile cases to connect the paradox to nursing education.