Date of Conferral

10-16-2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Policy and Administration

Advisor

Gregory Campbell

Abstract

Although election data exists on the importance of African American women for the Democratic Party, a gap remains in the literature regarding the influences of African American women who participated in the Democratic Party civic engagement during the 2024 presidential election. Key findings from existing literature included the tension between hope and burnout and the reliance on faith-based and peer networks to sustain motivation. The purpose of this study was to explore the influences responsible for African American women’s civic engagement in the 2024 presidential election. This authentic narrative qualitative study’s conceptual framework was grounded in the digital peer influence theory and the effort-reward imbalance theory. The study was conducted using an authentic narrative research design. Participant interviews were conducted with 10 respondents. Data were coded using emotion, verbal exchange, and domain/taxonomic mechanisms. Digital platforms amplified existing motivations and trusted peer networks served as the most powerful drivers of digital political action. Emotional fatigue, cultural loyalty, and offline organizational affiliations significantly shaped engagement patterns, which extended the understanding of African American women’s civic engagement in the context of digital platforms and cultural identity during the 2024 presidential election. Recommendations include the expansion of support for offline culture and community-based efforts and the recognition of emotional labor in political activism. The implications for positive social change include the contribution of elevating voices by Black women in civic discourse and encouraging equitable engagement strategies across multiple platforms and institutions.

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