The "strong black woman": an intersectional analysis of African American women's double bind

Strong Black Woman/Superwoman;double bind;racism;sexism;qualitative

Watson, Natalie ; Hunter ; Carla D.

关键词: Strong Black Woman/Superwoman;    double bind;    racism;    sexism;    qualitative;   

Others  :  https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/bitstream/handle/2142/44441/Natalie_Watson.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

美国|英语

来源: The Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship

【 摘 要 】

African American women’s endorsement of the ‘Strong Black Woman’ (SBW) race-gender ideology has received recent attention given its association with harmful health outcomes. However, the ideology’s function in the lives of African American women has been under-explored. This study investigated the meaning, expectations, and role of the SBW race-gender ideology in the lives of African American women. Qualitative thematic analysis was used to analyze the data from 13 African American women who discussed the conflicting and competing messages or ‘double binds’ that African American women experience when internalizing the SBW race-gender ideology. Three double binds were identified: Be Psychologically Durable yet Do Not Engage in Behaviors that Preserve Psychological Durability, Be Equal yet Be Oppressed, and Be Feminine yet Reject Traditional Feminine Attributes. Each theme is discussed with respect to its function and its perceived advantages and disadvantages in the lives of African American women who face multiple stressors, including poverty, racism, and sexism.