Black college women, especially those who are first-generation and low-income (FGLI), navigate higher education with intersecting identities that often render their experiences invisible. While much research has focused on Black college men or broader first-generation populations, the nuanced realities of Black college women at predominantly White institutions (PWIs) remain understudied. This presentation will share findings from a dissertation study exploring how FGLI Black college women, who participated in campus fitness programs, built and accessed social capital within the often exclusionary spaces of higher education. Drawing on Critical Race Theory and Bourdieu’s concept of social capital, the research revealed both the challenges and triumphs these women faced from racial microaggressions and stereotyping to the creation of powerful support systems through campus counter spaces, peer groups, and affirming relationships with staff and administrators.

Webinar attendees will gain insight into the structural barriers confronting FGLI Black college women, the transformative impact of culturally relevant support systems, and practical implications for higher education practitioners, researchers, and policymakers looking to promote equity and belonging on college campuses and universities.