‘Marginalised Access’ in South African Higher Education: Black Women Academics Speak!

Abstract

Within the complex social dynamics of transformation in South African higher education, increasing access of previously marginalised groups of black people and women cannot be over-emphasised. The need for higher education institutions in South Africa to open their doors to all and specifically, to black women academics has been an issue of discussion by the Department of Higher Education and scholars since the dawn of democracy in 1994. Drawing on critical race theory in analysing the lived experiences of black women academics in a historically white university, this study seeks to understand their perspectives about how the university manages the increasing number of black women academics and, most importantly, whether it ensures their successful participation in institutional spaces. While access of previously marginalised groups to higher education has increased, the findings of this study indicate that social and cultural practices, as well as institutional structures at the university act as a barrier to black women’s successful participation.

DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n20p2976