Mixed Race Studies

Learning from the Collusions, Collisions, and Contentions with White Privilege Experienced in the United States by White Mothers of Sons and Daughters whose Race is not White

Cardinal Stritch University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2014
405 pages
ATI Number: 3614469

Jennifer Lee Slye Chandler

The purpose of this study was to collect and examine stories from women who identify as White in the United States who are mothers whose sons and daughters they do not identify as White. The stories collected are about their interactions as White women (who are mothers of daughters and sons who are not White) with family, friends, strangers, doctors, daycare providers, teachers, and principals. Their stories are also about their thoughts, feelings, decisions, and actions regarding themselves as White and as mothers. The research question was: How is White privilege manifested in the lives of White women who are mothers of daughters and sons who they do not identify as White?

Based on interviews with thirty White mothers whose sons and daughters they do not identify as White living in twenty-four locations across the United States interviewed over an eight month period, three manifestations of White privilege were identified and analyzed: collusions, collisions, and contentions. These three social processes were incorporated into Harro’s (2013) cycle of socialization. The findings from the current study were correlated with findings from prior studies of White privilege with White mothers of daughters and sons who they do not identify as White and also with the findings from studies with White teachers. The conclusions from this study support recommendations in three areas of theory: (1) updating theories on White privilege; (2) updating one of the tenets of Critical Race Theory; and (3) updating theories on motherhood. The conclusions from this study support also recommendations in three areas of research: (1) research on White privilege; (2) research on teacher preparation; and (3) research on motherhood.

Purchase the dissertation here.

White Mothers of Biracial Sons and Daughters in U.S. Schools:  Colliding, Colluding, and Contending with White Privilege

Jennifer Little, a Ph.D. candidate in the Leadership for the Advancement of Learning and Service program at Cardinal Stritch University, is looking to build out her list of mothers to interview for her dissertation—which is titled “White Mothers of Biracial Sons and Daughters in U.S. Schools: Colliding, Colluding, and Contending with White Privilege”

The purpose of this study is to collect and examine descriptions and portrayals from White mothers of biracial sons and daughters of their interactions with the teachers and principals who work at the public schools in the United States (US) that their children attend. The research questions are:

1. What common discourse components are contained in their descriptions?
2. How do the location differences among the mothers play a role? How do mothers who live in locations where the majority of residents self-identify as White compare to locations where the majority of the residents are not White?
3. How do the mothers’ depictions of the interactions compare to the teachers’ and principals’ portrayals?

A critical discourse analysis approach is planned for examining the descriptions provided by the study participants. The study will interview White mothers of biracial sons and daughters attending public schools across the US. In order to support triangulation, interviews or focus groups with teachers and principals will also be conducted. All the interviews and focus groups will be video recorded. The analysis of the data collected will be completed by reviewing the videos.

If you or someone you know would like to participate in her study, or if you have questions please contact her via e-mail.

She plans to start the interviewing phase in January 2013. She plans to travel to several metropolitan areas around the United States to conduct the interviews. She also plans to video record the interviews for use in a documentary. Some interviews she may need to do via the internet.