Registration coming soon

Join us for a Research Fridays event with Dr. Jatia Wrighten, Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at VCU.

Description

Oppression Made Us Leaders: Black Women, Heavy Lifting, and Leadership in State Legislatures examines the legislative behavior of Black women through a novel intersectional framework, the Heavy Lifter Theory (HLT). The Heavy Lifter Theory considers Black women’s history of oppression beginning with enslavement, and how this unique ancestry cultivates a skillset that lends itself to effective leadership. Black women are continually increasing their representation in U.S. legislative institutions, specifically state legislatures. This research provides a historical context through which to understand and examine the gendered nature of the ascription process for Black women. Specifically, their experience as a marginalized group burdened them with the duty of being the heavy lifter. Although being the heavy lifter is a burden, this focus on Black women’s ability to thrive under constant discrimination in the form of racism and sexism should give scholars pause.  By examining the leadership roles of Black women legislators, the heavy lifter identity may serve as a source of purpose, psychological strength, and social empowerment, enabling these women to carve out paths that were previously deemed unexpected for them.

About the Speaker

Jatia Wrighten, Ph.D, is a Political Science scholar with expertise in American Politics. Specifically, she conducts research on Black women, state legislatures, and leadership, with an emphasis on intersectionality. Her current project examines the differences in leadership attainment that exists between Black women, white women, Black men, and white men in state legislatures and the factors that cause these differences. She has created a novel theory called the Heavy Lifter Theory that describes how and why Black women move in American society. She continues to research and provide instruction that emphasizes themes of equality, justice, and political effects for the most marginalized groups in the United States as an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU).