A Study of African American Women and their Perceptions of Life in Utah

• Main Author: DeMayo, Jennifer Caye
• Format: Others
• Published: BYU ScholarsArchive 1992
• Subjects: Utah; Social conditions; Public opinion; Ethnic relations; African American women; Attitudes; African American Studies; Mormon Studies; Women's Studies
• Online Access: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4644; https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5643&context=etd

The purpose of this study was to examine, through the use of the ethnographic interview (Spradley, 1979), residential preferences, as well as the stated reasons for relocation of African American women who live in a predominantly White, Utah Mormon culture. The "push and pull" factors that impacted the women's decisions to come to and/or remain in Utah were qualitatively analyzed in some detail. The end goal of the research was to determine whether Utah was perceived as a desirable residence by and for African American women.Residential preference is a complex issue which requires an in depth explanation. The prominent discovery was a conflict that arose between the Mormon and non-Mormon women. An explanation of the conflict lies with one of two possibilities. The first being essentialism, and the second historically racist behavior on the part of the Mormon church.