The participants are all beloved stars.
Multiple (at least three) participants told stories about their parents and caregivers during their interviews. Four also talked about parenting while on the tenure-track. While everyone mentioned the roles of mentors and elders, the stories about parents and parenting were reflections of self, of resilience against institutional and systemic oppression. In particular, participants reflected on their childhood selves–fiery, whimsical, go-getter, resourceful–in ways that projected their love for themselves, their hopes for their future, and gratitude for their roots. One person commented, simply, “My father had dreams for me.”
Participants who had experienced extreme low points professionally due to institutional betrayal sought to “find my way back” to a sense of being valued, loved, and unstoppable as a force for good.
Studies
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