Aniya Lewis
Research Mentor(s): Imani Barnes
Mentor Department: Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Authors: Aniya Lewis, Imani Barnes, M.A., Patricia Coleman-Burns, Ph.D.
Session: Session 3 (11:00am – 11:50am)
Presentation Type: Poster 38
Abstract
There are systematic inequalities following the pandemic that affect the abilities of women of color (WoC) to work and live daily. This project, COVID-19 in Color, is an initiative through the Women of Color in the Academy Project (WOCAP) to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on women of color. We aim to highlight the gap between existing research and the challenges of women who are most underrepresented and more exposed to this unequalized impact on society through the use of focus groups to engage WoC in open discussions about how the pivotal pandemic had implications for not only their physical health but also their psychological and emotional wellbeing. Our research objectives are first to analyze existing studies that capture women’s experiences, identify inequities within the University of Michigan’s horizon of women of color, gather recommendations from our target group, and explore potential solutions among the minority. The future of this work will be continuously finding impacts that COVID-19 had on women of color, targeting different areas and more long-term effects. This research will increase the awareness of the burdens that WoC face daily, examining the recovery years post-pandemic. As we gauge themes, extract insights, and find ways to guide future advocacy for gender and race, through my literature review, I hope to better understand the challenges faced by WoC.
