Gender Differences in the Experiences of African American College Students: The Effects of Co-ethnic Support and Campus Diversity

This study applies an intersectional framework to provide information about the ways in which race, gender, and on-campus social support influence the experiences of African American college students. Using the National Longitudinal Survey of Freshmen, I examine how co-ethnic social support from the college community and the college racial composition influence the experiences of African American students attending selective colleges. The results suggest that African American women and men are differentially influenced by co-ethnic support and college racial composition. African American women are more likely than are African American men to receive personal support from African American members of the campus community, take classes with African American professors, and participate in an African American student group. I also find that co-ethnic support is positively related to the academic and social experiences of African American women during college, and I find that the college satisfaction of African American women is positively related to campus diversity.