A Space to Breathe & Grow: A Women & Leadership Program Operates as a Counterspace at a Predominantly White Institution for First-Generation Women of Color

In recent years, higher education institutions have created several efforts to support both first-generation college students and Women of Color (WOC), including within leadership education. However, these programs often need to account for the intersectional oppression experienced by first-generation undergraduate WOC. The researchers of this case study demonstrate how a Women and Leadership Program at a Predominantly White Institution in the Western U.S. operates as a counterspace for first-generation undergraduate WOC by contributing to their validation, sense of belonging, and leadership development. As such, the researchers recommend creating and sustaining leadership programs for first-generation undergraduate WOC.