I smiled and thought to myself if only dissertations were just twenty minutes then life for doctoral candidates would be so much easier. Neither the writing nor the oral defense of a dissertation for a doctorate lasts twenty minutes. The woman's words reminded me of how little most people know about the dissertation process.

But it's not just the general public that has big misconceptions about the process; these misconceptions extend even to some doctoral candidates themselves. I can't tell you how many times over the past four years I have spoken with women of color doctoral candidates who are about to begin writing the dissertation but don't understand how long it takes from start to finish. Many assume that they can hold down a full time job, complete their dissertation and defend, all within one year or less.

Writing a dissertation takes time and you need even more time if you're doing it while holding down a full time job. SisterMentors' women --- most of whom work full time jobs --- take an average of two years to complete the dissertation from start to finish. The one woman who finished the dissertation within one year did not work at a regular job but instead devoted all her time to writing. The entire doctoral process, including course work and research, takes an average of seven years.

It is important for doctoral candidates to understand the process themselves so that they can explain it to their family and loved ones. SisterMentors' women report that their family and loved ones do not understand what they're doing therefore they're not getting the understanding and support they need as they go through the process. This lack of understanding is most likely because many communities of color are unfamiliar with the doctoral process.

Most of the women in SisterMentors --- and other women of color --- are the first generation in their families to get a doctorate or advanced degree. It is important for doctoral candidates of color to educate family and loved ones about what it takes to get a doctorate. This will be an effective way of getting the emotional and other support you need while writing the dissertation.

Almost every SisterMentors woman relates the now infamous question asked of her by a family member or loved one: "Haven't you finished that paper, yet?!?!" Start by explaining that you're not writing a "paper" but a well-researched book of a few hundred pages, with footnotes, data, and bibliography, which you must also orally defend before a committee of scholars before you are granted the doctorate. Show them some of the research you've already done and share some of your writing. Better yet, share with them a copy of someone else's dissertation. They'll begin to get the picture.

But beware, after you've spent some time explaining the process you may have to give frequent refresher courses. Don't be discouraged. The more your family and loved ones understand what you're doing the less likely they are to ask what's taking you so long to finish that "paper" or to insist that you go see a movie with them on a Saturday afternoon when you're trying to discipline mind and body to work on your dissertation.