Saundra Starks

African American Women at Midlife: The Relationship Between Spirituality and Life Satisfaction

In this study, 147 African American women from six states were asked to complete the Adult Life Satisfaction Scale and the Black Womens Spirituality/Religiosity Measure (BWSRM), and in-depth interviews were conducted with 6 African American women. Although no significant difference was found among the ratings of life satisfaction and spirituality with respect to age or educational level, the women reported higher levels of religiosity than spirituality, which correlated significantly with life satisfaction. An analysis of a subscale of the BWSRM, however, found that the women reported significantly higher levels of spirituality than of religiosity. A moderate correlation was found between age and religiosity, and spirituality was found to be a critical variable that contributed to the life satisfaction of African American women at midlife regardless of age, income, or education.

The Complexities of Becoming Visible: Reflecting on the Stories of Women of Color as Social Work Educators

This article is part of a lifelong commitment to bring the experiences of women of color to the forefront of academic discussion. It is a reflection on the struggles, sustaining forces, and legacy passed on by women of color, who are social work educators to future generations of women. Framed by feminist theory and the theory of intersectionality, the narratives of 16 women of color are points of reflection. The findings of their narratives affirm multiple barriers and challenges, sustaining forces, and the legacy passed on by these pioneers to future generations. Implications for policy, practice, and research are also discussed.

The Contextual Experiences of Rural Custodial Grandparents and Opportunities for Social Work

Rural custodial grandparents have been understudied. As the grandparent caregiving population increases, more attention is needed to understand custodial grandparents in rural settings. This article explores the state of knowledge of the experiences of rural grandparents. A systematic review of the caregiving literature is conducted to understand the issues affecting this caregiving population. The results suggest that rural grandparents often are minority grandmothers with limited resources who provide care to older grandchildren in isolated environments. Attention is given to the social ecological framework as one model that can help to inform how social workers intervene with this population. Recommendations are offered for social work research, practice, and policy.

Spirituality: A Sustaining Force Among Women of Color Academics

The significance of spirituality to the well-being and success of women of Color academics is discussed in this article. Participating women of Color revealed the complexities of navigating teaching, scholarship, and service responsibilities as well as the tenure and promotion process. Spirituality was identified as one of the most important sustaining and protective factors in the success of these women of Color. Spirituality was conceptualized broadly by these women as an inclusive and multidimensional phenomenon. Also suggested are implications for future research, academic and policy changes that would support the specific journeys of women of Color in the academy.