Date of Award
1-7-2022
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Middle and Secondary Education
First Advisor
Dr. Natalie King
Second Advisor
Dr. Jennifer Esposito
Third Advisor
Dr. Susan Ogletree
Fourth Advisor
Dr. Martin Norgaard
Abstract
This exploratory case study examined the lived experiences of Black women composers. The main research question undergirding this research sought to understand how Black women composers describe their identities of race and gender within their careers. It also aimed to understand how Black women composers navigate elements of knowledge, opportunity, and visibility in a profession where they have been traditionally marginalized. Purposive sampling was used to invite ten Black women composers who are active in their careers and have catalogued works that are published and performed. Utilizing a conceptual framework that encompasses Black Feminist Thought (Collins, 2009) and Counterspaces (Case & Hunter, 2012), the case study centered the experiences of Black women composers in a way that will contribute to music and music education. Three themes surfaced in the findings from this research: 1) adversity played a major role in building Black women composer’s resilience 2) they identified music as being a vessel for their opportunity and visibility in the field, and 3) self-awareness was essential to realizing their identities as Black women composers.
Recommended Citation
Boykin, Brittney, "Knowing that My Voice Belonged There: An Exploratory Case Study on the Lived Experiences of Black Women Composers." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2022.
doi: https://doi.org/10.57709/26862367
DOI
https://doi.org/10.57709/26862367
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