M.A., Ph.D., Washington University
A.B., University of Missouri-Columbia

Aaronette White’s research focuses on the psychology of autobiography (evolving life narratives) and nonstudent, adult populations. Her work stretches the boundaries of psychology integrating critical theory and social movement theory with personality, developmental, and social psychological perspectives.

Specifically, Professor White investigates how the intersections of race, class, and sexuality affect adult feminist identity development and activist practices among diverse populations. She has analyzed the life narratives of self-identified African American feminist women and men and developed Black feminist psychological models that explain how women and men of color learn to identify themselves as “feminist” and sustain their feminist identities.

Recent projects include studying the intersections of race, gender, class, and ethnicity among former African women guerrilla soldiers who are currently peacebuilders in various African countries. Using African feminist perspectives on war and peace, Professor White is analyzing turning points in the women’s lives that led them to join the armed struggle and remain politically active after such struggles in peacebuilding efforts.

Another current project studies the public policy implications of Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered churches’ outreach ministries and how the multiple intersecting political identities of the founding pastors of these churches shape such activities.

Adult feminist identity development; personality correlates of feminist activism; feminist masculinities studies; feminist perspectives on peace and violence; narrative psychology and adult personality change; Black feminist political psychology in the US and abroad; critical psychology

2008 - White, A.M. Ain't I a Feminist? African American Men speak out on fatherhood, friendship, forgiveness, and freedom. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. http://www.sunypress.edu/details.asp?id=61676

2007 - White, A.M. All the Men are Fighting for Freedom, All the Women are Mourning Their Men, But Some of Us Carried Guns: A Raced-Genedered Analysis of Fanon's Psychological Perspectives on War. Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society, 34 (4), 857-884. [Reprinted in K. Alexander and M. Hawkesworth, Eds., Feminist Perspectives on War and Terror. University of Chicago Press, March 2008]

2006 - White, A.M. Racial and gender attitudes as predictors of feminist activism among self-identified African American Feminists. Journal of black Psychology 32 (4), 1-24.