Educating Rita at the cultural interface: exploring intersections between race and gender in the experiences of Australian Aboriginal women at university

Abstract

While a significant minority cohort, Australian Aboriginal women are increasingly attending university. However, their experiences remain largely undocumented in the literature. This study focused on the experience of eight female Aboriginal students who completed an Indigenous-only bridging course where they watched the film, Educating Rita, about a working-class woman attending university. The protagonist was a catalyst for a yarning circle which captured participants’ free-flowing conversation about barriers and motivators at university. Thematic analysis of yarning data suggested that the participants faced class and gender-based struggles, which intersected with struggles faced by Indigenous students more broadly. Motivation to persist with university was expressed through paradox; family, community, and caregiving were key motivators and key obstacles. Findings from this study have theoretical and practical application: they illustrate a gendered experience of the Cultural Interface and offer catalysts for tailored support strategies to enable Australian Aboriginal women to undertake and achieve university degrees.