Resiliency Factors: An Exploration of Slovenia and US Women in Higher Education

Abstract

This paper examines factors influencing resilience in United States (US) university women of color and their Slovenian counterparts. Several US professors were invited to Slovenia to present each country's vision for success for women in higher education. In preparation for the conference, two US professors took an investigative approach to draw parallels between the US women of color and the Slovenian students. A systematic analysis of review of literature on Slovenian women was employed to examine the resilience factor for women in higher education. The findings identified three challenges Slovenian women face that included: a) limited support from family members; b) balancing school, work and family; and c) time management. Nine US women of color who were part of a southern California university learning community were also studied using a questionnaire, critical incident review, and interviews to examine the obstacles to educational attainment. Four themes emerged: a) group member conflicts; b) poor communication; c) work-life balance; and d) living away from home. The findings of the studies indicated that living up to expectations, advocating for oneself, recommitting to degree completion, practicing self-care, relinquishing perfectionism, incorporating personal responsibility, and asking for help were resiliency factors contributing to successful degree completion. This article offers insights into the resiliency factors that contribute to women's academic success and upward mobility.