THE CULTIVATION OF HAITIAN WOMEN’S SENSE OF SELVES:  

TOWARDS A FIELD OF ACTION 

 
 

 
By 

Shewonda Leger 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A DISSERTATION 

Submitted to 

Michigan State University 

in partial fulfillment of the requirements 

for the degree of  

Rhetoric and Writing—Doctor of Philosophy  

2019   

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

ABSTRACT 

THE CULTIVATION OF HAITIAN WOMEN’S SENSE OF SELVES: 

TOWARDS A FIELD OF ACTION 

By 

Shewonda Leger 

This multimodal dissertation makes space for diasporic Haitian women’s stories and 

lived experiences which continue to be under-theorized within rhetorical scholarship but are 

clearly significant within Haitian communities and rhetorical traditions. To bring awareness to 

Haitian women’s lived experiences, in my dissertation, I present the findings of a study that 

addresses the ways diasporic Haitian women revisit and navigate memories through reflection to 

make sense of the ways their lived experiences contribute to different aspects of their identities. 

The two situations I used as catalysts for memory were—inhabiting and reflecting on practices 

and conversations of the Haitian kitchen space—and, looking at and revisiting photographs to 

understand how we, claim, (re)claim, and/or discover identities. To make this inquiry, I explored 

the act of reflection through in-depth interviews with three diasporic Haitian women. I aim to 

understand what new knowledge(s) do diasporic Haitian women recognize about their identities 

through the act of reflection and navigating memories? Further, I work towards understanding 

how do these new knowledges modify identity performances in the “now”? And, how does a 

sense of identity consciousness contribute to diasporic Haitian womens’ experiences and 

practices moving forward? Overall, using modes, such as documentary and photography in my 

dissertation, I make space for diasporic Haitian women’s voices in rhetoric and composition to 

disrupt colonial images, visions, myths, stereotypes, and/or fantasies, replacing them with the 

complexity of our cultural identities from our own lens. 

Copyright by  

SHEWONDA LEGER 

2019 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 

Lord, thank you for being with me as I went through difficulties and joyous moments to 

complete my dissertation. Thank you for the moments that allowed me to experience your grace. 

Thank you for the supernatural strength these past four years beyond what I even know to ask 

for. 

Manman ak Papa, mèsi. Without your sacrifices, I would not be where I am today. Thank you 

for encouraging me in all of my dreams and inspiring me to follow them—even when you don’t 

understand them fully. Mèsi pou priyè ou yo. 

Sasha and Ashton, thank you for the laughs you brought throughout my dissertation process. 

Ashton, thank you for always being available when I need a chill day full of movies and junk 

food. Sasha thank you for the spiritual support. I'm grateful that God gave y’all to me as siblings. 

Jennifer Delvois, Lisa-Marie Pierre, and Rolguine Moreau thank you for collaborating with me 

in making my dissertation a reality. I would not have been able to accomplish this project 

without each of you. Mèsi pou istwa ou yo. Mèsi pou memwa ou yo.  

To my committee members, Jacqueline Rhodes, Tama Hamilton-Wray, April Baker-Bell, 

Gwendolyn D Pough, and Malea Powell, Mèsi. Your mentorship provided me with the support 

to focus and grow at various stages of research and writing. Without you all, I would not have 

been able to accomplish the dissertation I imaged. 

iv 

Suban and Briona, thank you for always being there to encourage me throughout my personal 

and professional life—our moments together allowed me to gain two sisters. Thank you for your 

sisterhood and willingness to listen patiently. 

Stephanie (cohort bestie), thank you for being there since the start of our doctoral program. 

Jerrice, thank you. Together we unapologetic took up space in the writing center. 

Roni and Laura, thank you for always being there—#Floridagirls. I am truly honored to have 

had the opportunity to listen and learn from each one of you. 

Naeemah, thank you for always reminding me to make time for devotion, despite all that I may 

be going through. Thank you for being a spiritual sister and guardian.   

Shout to my friends and family—you know who you are. Thank you for listening, offering me 

advice, and supporting me through this entire process.  

Thank you to the Caribbean women writers whose influential work has provided direction to 

my own quest to voicing Haitian women’s lived experience. 

v 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

 

Central Sections and Layout of Dissertation ..................................................................................1 

Link to multimodal dissertation ......................................................................................................1 

WORKS CITED .............................................................................................................................2 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vi 

 

 

 

Central Sections and Layout of Dissertation 

In the section, “Situating a Haitian Rhetorical Research Design: Frameworks, 

Methodologies, and Methods,” I describe my research design. To approach my research 

questions, I constellated frameworks, such as cultural rhetorics, Caribbean rhetorics, and 

Caribbean feminist thought to design Caribbean Rhetorics Reflective Methodology. Further, I 

discuss theories and digital composing practices behind the modes within my dissertation. To 

conclude, I discuss how I recruited participants, collected data, and the myriad practices I 

employed to analyze the data I collected.   

 

In the first data section, “Kizin Ayisyen: Examining Haitian Women’s Knowledges 

through (Re)Situated Identity and Cultural Practices,” I theorize how interactions and practices 

in the Haitian kitchen space contribute to identity construction. As the cinematographer and 

editor, in this section, I include my documentary video Kizin Ayisyen: A Familiar Space 

Enacting Haitian Women’s Identities. In the second data section, “Assembling and Embodying 

Identities Through Photographs,” participants revisited photographs to recognize moments of 

identity (re)construction.  

 

In the conclusion, “Konklizyon: Proceeding Towards a Field of Action,” wherein I chose 

the form of a reflective narrative, I discuss my overall findings and implications.  

 

Link to the multimodal dissertation: https://sleger.wixsite.com/field-of-action 

This link will be continuously monitored to ensure it is active and available.  

 
 
 

1 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WORKS CITED 

 

 

2 

 

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