The struggles and the triumphs of South African Black women professors

The apartheid epoch introduced a web of laws that influenced public and private structures ideological apparatuses, including educational institutions, to give an inferior status Black people. South Africa was also upheld by deeply patriarchal system which marginalised the women in society. This meant most people senior positions African organisations were predominantly white male. consequence racism patriarchy there have been low number professors institutions higher education. study therefore aimed examine discourses post-apartheid Africa. used Critical Race Theory (CRT) critical consciousness, understand challenges encounter how they strategically navigated these education, respectively. recruited from two universities. Semi-structured interviews collect data. data analysed using thematic analysis. significance is it identified discourses, could be useful kinds may operate education ways shift existing challenges. findings showed main encountered namely: (1) feelings being unwelcomed within academic space (2) being undermined their leadership positions. seemed navigate (1) being vocal, intentional, about excelling work (3) adopting transformational style. feeds into can accommodate professors, as through career.