Graduation Term
2021
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
School of Communication
Committee Chair
Lindsey Thomas
Abstract
With the recent political climate, race has been an important topic of discussion and how the systems of our society influence your movement through life based on said race. The system of interest of this thesis of that of employment and the themes of what it means to be and act professional. Traditionally, these themes are centered around whiteness and the employees’ ability to adapt to these standards placed on the organization in which they work. Using critical race theory as the theoretical lens, this thesis uses a dialogic approach to convey the stories and testimonies of members of the Black community who attempt to balance their identities of being Black while being seen a professional in their field. I conducted four online focus groups via Facebook consisting of members of the Black community who are currently employed. Using thematic analysis, three themes emerged related to what being a professional means while being a Black person. Implications of the study, limitations, and future research are discussed.
Access Type
Thesis-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Allen, Amber, "Balancing Identities: a Thematic Analysis of the Ideology of Professionalism and Its Effect on Stigmatized Cultural Groups" (2021). Theses and Dissertations. 2042.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/2042
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2024.20250116063114592087.999999
