ABSTRACT

This qualitative study analyzes the relationship between two concepts from critical race theory – counterspaces and community cultural wealth. Counterspaces are supportive, identity-affirming community spaces, while community cultural wealth highlights the importance of the knowledge, skills, and networks used by individuals belonging to marginalized groups to successfully navigate academia. This study investigates the hypothesis that the processes operating within counterspaces serve to strengthen an individual’s access to their community cultural wealth. The study site is BRAINS, a U.S.-based professional development program for early-career academic neuroscientists from underrepresented groups. Findings revealed that two types of counterspace processes (narrative identity work and direct relational transactions) and three types of community cultural wealth (aspirational capital, social capital, and navigational capital) are most salient within BRAINS. After examining the complex interactions connecting counterspace processes and community cultural wealth, we offer recommendations for future professional development programs and research designed to broaden participation in academia.

 抽象的

这项定性研究分析了批判种族理论中的两个概念——反空间和社区文化财富之间的关系。柜台空间是支持性的、确认身份的社区空间，而社区文化财富则凸显了边缘化群体的个人所使用的知识、技能和网络对于成功驾驭学术界的重要性。本研究调查了这样一个假设：柜台空间内运行的过程有助于加强个人获取社区文化财富的能力。研究地点是 BRAINS，这是一个位于美国的专业发展项目，针对来自代表性不足群体的早期职业学术神经科学家。研究结果表明，两种类型的反空间过程（叙事身份工作和直接关系交易）和三种类型的社区文化财富（愿望资本、社会资本和导航资本）在大脑中最为突出。在研究了反空间过程和社区文化财富之间的复杂相互作用之后，我们为未来的专业发展计划和旨在扩大学术界参与的研究提供了建议。