'We need a woman, we need a black woman': gender, race, and identity taxation in the academy

• Published in: Gender and education Vol. 24; no. 2; pp. 213 - 227
• Main Authors: Hirshfield, Laura E., Joseph, Tiffany D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Routledge 01.03.2012; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: academia; Academic profession; Black people; College Faculty; cultural taxation; Culture; Ethnic Identity; Ethnic minorities; Females; Gender; Gender Differences; Gender Issues; intersectionality; Interviews; Membership; Minority & ethnic groups; Minority Groups; Qualitative analysis; Qualitative Research; Race; Self Concept; Sex; Sexual Orientation; Sexual Preferences; Social identity; Taxation; Teacher Attitudes; U.S.A; Women; Women Faculty; Midwest states
• ISSN: 0954-0253; 1360-0516
• DOI: 10.1080/09540253.2011.606208

In 1994, Amado Padilla used the phrase 'cultural taxation' to describe the extra burden of service responsibilities placed upon minority faculty members because of their racial or ethnic background. In this paper, we expand upon Padilla's work and introduce the concept of 'identity taxation' to encompass how other marginalised social identities (such as gender, race and gender, and sexual orientation) may result in additional non-academic service commitments for certain faculty. Using qualitative interviews with faculty members at a large, public university in the Midwest, we examine identity taxation involving gender and the intersection of gender and race to demonstrate how women faculty (in general) and women of colour (specifically) feel their gender and racial group memberships influence their experiences in academia.