Expanding Perceptions of Self and Other Through Study Abroad

Expanding Perceptions of Self and Other Through Study Abroad
Author: Benjamin McKay Williams
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2006
Genre: African Americans
ISBN:

Abstract: This dissertation explored the ways in which White, African American and Biracial American undergraduate and graduate students made meaning of race and other aspects of identity. Using a constructivist grounded methodology this study revealed a new way to conceptualize the processes by which students' perceptions of self and other were shaped through a course on the culture and society of Southern Africa and by studying abroad on a short-term program to that region: the dynamics of integrating lenses. In the U.S. classroom, students moved from ignorance about the continent of Africa and the region of Southern Africa to an initial understanding. Through the combined course and study abroad program, the White undergraduate students' unexamined White privilege was surfaced and examined. At the same time, Black students' pride in being Black and their connection to their histories was deepened. Their assumptions about race and identification with Africa were also broadened. The result of the group cohesiveness and support was that White and Black students who had never had friends of the "other" race expanded their relationships to incorporate new people who they may never have interacted with otherwise. Through personal stories students were exposed to new perspectives and experiences, first, in the U.S. classroom, later in Southern Africa, and also in the comfort and security of the group itself. Through personal relationships with the instructor, the tour guides and fellow students, participants became engaged. Through learning about Southern Africa: its history, the society, and its many cultures, students became invested in the stories and the people who told them. As a result, they felt compelled to confront the reality they were facing. Through reflecting on those experiences in the support of the group, students were able to grapple with the dissonance between their earlier assumptions, perceptions, and beliefs and the new experiences they were having. This led to a greater complexity of thinking around issues of race, community, and globalization, and an expansion of the lenses they used to perceive themselves and others.

Exploring the Perceptions of Study Abroad Among Black Undergraduates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities

Exploring the Perceptions of Study Abroad Among Black Undergraduates at Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Author: Nykia D. Gaines
Publisher:
Total Pages:
Release: 2012
Genre: African American college students
ISBN:

International education helps students become more engaged within the United States and abroad. Black undergraduates continue to be underrepresented in study abroad despite two decades of increased enrollment by Black students in higher education in the United States. This study had three purposes: (1) to explore how Black undergraduates attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) perceived study abroad programs, (2) to understand how individual and institutional characteristics related to the desire of Black undergraduates at HBCUs to study abroad, and (3) to determine to what degree individual and institutional variables predicted Black undergraduates' desire to participate in study abroad.

The Agony of Education

The Agony of Education
Author: Joe R. Feagin
Publisher: Psychology Press
Total Pages: 212
Release: 1996
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780415915120

First Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

Exploring the Racial Gap in Study Abroad Participation at U.S. Colleges and Universities Through a Mixed-methods Analysis of Student Intention

Exploring the Racial Gap in Study Abroad Participation at U.S. Colleges and Universities Through a Mixed-methods Analysis of Student Intention
Author: Ming Lei
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2022
Genre: Electronic dissertations
ISBN:

The study abroad experience is an important fixture of American higher education, with politicians, institutions, and mainstream media calling for increased participation. Participation in study abroad can potentially benefit students' personal, academic, and career development. However, historical educational data have shown that some groups, such as Students of Color, have been underrepresented in study abroad participation at American colleges and universities. To better understand the racial gap in study abroad participation, this study combined the Theory of Planned Behavior and critical race theory to explore the intersections of race and racism with factors (i.e., attitude, subject norm, perceived behavioral control) that predict students' intention to study abroad, and the role of social and non-social environmental influences on these factors (e.g., advertisements, advisers). The results indicated that for Students of Color and White students, racial identity and expected effects of racism were related in different ways to attitude (i.e., students' evaluation of study abroad), subjective norm (i.e., their sense of social support), and perceived behavioral control (i.e., their sense of the ease of studying abroad). For attitude, Students of Color thought both their race and racism would affect their personal experience and viewed racism as a built-in aspect of the study abroad experience, where White students generally thought neither would affect them. For subjective norm, White students generally did not believe racism affected the kinds of support they received. In contrast, there was evidence of exclusion for Students of Color, such as being ignored by campus recruiters promoting study abroad and being ignored by academic advisers. Students of Color also evaluated the usefulness of information from supportive figures based to the racial identity of the source as a proxy for the ability to understand the nuance of race while studying abroad. For perceived behavioral control, White students thought their racial identity would make it easier to study abroad and did not think racism would affect their ease of studying abroad. Overall, the Theory of Planned Behavior accurately predicted White students' intentions to study abroad, where their positive perceptions of study abroad, support to study abroad, and fewer barriers were generally correlated with their intentions to study abroad. In contrast, Students of Color demonstrated greater behavioral intention to study abroad even though they had negative expectations about their experience, especially with racism, a lack of support from advisers and greater expectations of racism as a potential barrier. In drawing on the lived experiences of Students of Color, these findings suggest that racism may not be well modeled by the traditional patterns described by decision-making theories like the Theory of Planned Behavior. Similarly, the framework does not address the potential moderating role of racial identity. For example, for subjective norm supportive figures like advisers engaged in supportive behaviors as theorized by the framework, but for Students of Color, they were served more as barriers. This study also found that students' beliefs were found to be influenced by both social and nonsocial factors, such as social media and advertisements, the discovery of how race and racism may be intertwined with students' decisions about study abroad creates potential opportunities to improve recruitment strategies that address the beliefs of diverse students. More research is needed to better understand how students make decisions despite potential barriers, as well as the ways in which sources influential to students' beliefs about study abroad may be used to increase the accessibility of study abroad and increase the participation of underrepresented groups. The study abroad experience is an important fixture of American higher education, with politicians, institutions, and mainstream media calling for increased participation. Participation in study abroad can potentially benefit students' personal, academic, and career development. However, historical educational data have shown that some groups, such as Students of Color, have been underrepresented in study abroad participation at American colleges and universities. To better understand the racial gap in study abroad participation, this study combined the Theory of Planned Behavior and critical race theory to explore the intersections of race and racism with factors (i.e., attitude, subject norm, perceived behavioral control) that predict students' intention to study abroad, and the role of social and non-social environmental influences on these factors (e.g., advertisements, advisers).

Understanding the Participation Gap at Predominantly White Institutions

Understanding the Participation Gap at Predominantly White Institutions
Author: Jamil Funnah
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2023
Genre:
ISBN:

Study abroad is an opportunity students in higher education increasingly participate in (Institute of International Education, 2022). However college Students of Color, particularly Black students, participate in study abroad at disproportionately lower rates when compared to their white peers. This case study seeks to understand the multiple influences that inform lower levels of Black student participation in study abroad. Using Gusa’s (2010) white institutional presence framework, I examine multiple data points within a singular site including institutional messaging, procedures, and students interviews. Findings showed that multiple reasons impact Black students' decisions to study abroad. Understanding the findings can lead to practices that can improve Black students' likelihood to study abroad but also at an institutional level address white institutional presence (Gusa, 2010). Implications for practice and research are discussed.