The educational attainment of African American women mirrors a slow and steady process. However, despite this seemingly stunned growth, the fact remains that African American women, as a collective, continuosly strive for excellence and enlightenment as they journey through countless adversities and overcome numerous barriers socially imposed upon them by mainstream society.

 

• In terms of college participation, rates for African Americans aged 18 to 24, as a whole, equaled a rate of roughly 32 percent, a 12 percent increase from rates in 1980. In terms of gender, rates of college participation for Black women averaged about 34 percent in 2008 while those for Black men averaged about 30 percent. Though relatively smaller than the rates for White women which averaged about 47 percent, the fact that rates of participation for Black women outpaced that of Black men by 4 percent reflects not only the changing landscape in the arena of education, but the continued growth of Black women in academia beyond high school, for the fact that more Black women are participating in higher education illustrates the will power and drive of these women in thier attainment of education and thier ability to shatter this glass ceiling that has historically infringed on thier ability to mobilize and advance in society. 

• Likewise, in terms of undergraduate enrollment, the fact that as of 2008 rates of enrollment of Black women substantially averaged higher than White women, a rate of 64 percent for Black women and 56 percent for White women, reveals that this traditionally marginalized group oftentimes viewed as inferior in relation to White women greatly demolishes this portrayal, and reflects a drastic change in what is truly normative, for if White, in general, reflects the normative standard, then one would expect Black rates of enrollment to be relatively lower; however, this is not the case, thus illuminating just how much the very foundations that have regarded White as dominant is slowly, but surely fading into the back as more and more ethnic minorities are rising against said constraining barriers.

• In terms of graduate enrollment, Black women outpaced all other racial/ethnic groups, thus paralleling a similar trend with undergraduate enrollment. Rates of graduate enrollment for African American women increased from 56 percent in 1976 to 71 percent in 2008. Compared to White women whose raised increased from less than 50 percent in 1976 to about 60 percent of graduate enrollments supports the claim made previously in that Black women are shattering this glass ceiling and awakening thier inner consciousness and overcoming the adversities systematically imposed on them by mainstream society.

• In reference to graduation rates, African Americans experience a inverse relationship compared to thier overall enrollment, especially in the case of graduate level graduation rates. Rates of graduation among African Americans, as of 2004, averaged about 21.4 percent for Black women and about 30% for White women. This rate reveals that although Black women are enrolling in higher education thier rates of graduation, actually obtaining a degree falls short of White women. Numerous factors such as institutionalized racism coupled with marginalization of Black students, especially Black women, contributes to these rates; however, in the grand scheme of things Black women have higher rates of graduation compared to their male counterparts.

• In terms of degrees awarded, African American women statistically received more degrees than their male counterparts in nearly all levels of degree attainment. Earning about twice as many degrees as Black males, Black females have substantially illustrated their drive to overcome societal pressures to conform to an inferior status in society, for they have collectively outpaced not only White women in certain avenues of education, but they outpace Black men in most levels of degrees in higher education. Such a remarkable accomplishment illustrates the increased accessibility of education to not only women, but African American women as well. Black women are finding their agency and are cultivating their abilities in ways that propel them intellectually and socially. Representing about 2% of those receiving degrees in STEM fields alone showcases just how driven African American women are in their attempt to overcome adversties in academia.

• In terms of Bachelor Degrees, Black women comprise 66% of those receiving said degree. In the case of Master's Degrees, Black women comprise 72% of recipients; for Professional Degrees, Black women comprise about 63% of recipients, and for Doctorate Degrees, Black women comprise an average of 64% of recipients. These statistics like so many others outlined reveals the upward mobility of Black women from their traditionally marginalized status in society to greater positions.

 

However, despite all these remarkable and astonishing accomplishments of African American women, the core principles of patriarchy coupled with institutionalized racism and sexism cohesively infringe on the further upward mobility of these women. Like an iron cage these factors prevent Black women from successfully reaching heights never thought possible. For those who indeed reach the top they slowly lose a sense of identity, of just who they really are relative to their position and status in society. The fact that roughly 70% of all Black Doctorate Degree recipients are not employed exemplies not just instituitionalized racism and sexism, but supports the presense of a glass ceiling effect which stalls their advancement upward. Nonetheless, Black women and men continue to beat the odds and overcome these adverse situations. Though the journey is long and hard, Blacks, men and women,  continue to rise above it all and overcome it all.