Women of Color in the Academy: Where's Our Authority in the Classroom?

by Juanita Johnson-Bailey and Ming-Yeh Lee

Feminist pedagogy has revolutionized the academy and has powerfully informed and transformed teaching and learning. By addressing the power issues that are inherent in the classroom, feminist pedagogy has asked academicians to examine their individual practices, curriculum, and perspectives for subjugation by gender, race, and class. Furthermore, feminist pedagogy has encouraged teaching practices that empower students because it asks teachers to develop styles that are nonauthoritative and nurturing. There is no one-size-fits-all feminist pedagogy, however, and the combination of feminist pedagogy and women of color can make for a dangerous liaison.