Sometime ago I enjoyed the opportunity to offer a scholarly presentation on some things I learned through research about African American women and sexuality. The conference, “A Pattern of Diversity”, brings together academicians, other professionals, and lay people from various attitudes and interests regarding healthy human sexuality. Typically, this … [Read more...] about Women of Color and Sexuality: Another Lens to Appreciate Diverse Experiences
Life at the Intersection of Race, Gender and Class
I am a middle-aged African-American woman, single mother of two, raised as the youngest of eight children by a mother with a 10th-grade education. I grew up on the East Coast in an impoverished and crime-ridden former industrial town where the illegal drug trade is now the mainstay of the economy. From the description of me above, some might have me currently pegged as … [Read more...] about Life at the Intersection of Race, Gender and Class
Diversity as the Flavor of the Month
Based on the current calendar, colleges and universities recently ended their Hispanic-Latino Heritage Month celebrations (September 15th – October 15th). As four weeks of solid attention that included Spanish language programs, foods from various Latin American countries, and enlightenment regarding the contributions of Hispanic celebrities and historical figures … [Read more...] about Diversity as the Flavor of the Month
Diversity and Education: The Season of Changing & Beginning
As the new school year is beginning, diligent educators have prepared their classrooms, reviewed their class lists and formed some basic conclusions about students. We all pre-judge based on things like other colleagues’ previous experience with certain students, and having had their siblings (or in some cases their parents) in class before. We use categories to help us make … [Read more...] about Diversity and Education: The Season of Changing & Beginning
Increased Gender Diversity in Military: “Not Your Father’s Army”
I work with both male and female military veterans as a psychologist at a large urban healthcare system with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Women are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. Military, as they represent 14.5% of the U.S. active duty force. This change in demographics represents an increase in the diversity of the military, and brings … [Read more...] about Increased Gender Diversity in Military: “Not Your Father’s Army”