25 years of psychology research on the “strong black woman”

Abstract

The Strong Black woman (SBW) schema refers to the U.S. cultural gender role expectation of Black women as resilient despite adversity, selfless, and serving as caretakers and providers. Previous scholars have examined the nature, origins, and consequences of this schema, including the ways in which Black women navigate the SBW in their workplaces, communities, and relationships. Overall, research frames the schema as a paradox, noting that endorsing the SBW can compromise Black women's health while simultaneously encouraging resilience. In this review, we aim to provide a descriptive and holistic analysis for understanding gaps in the literature, as well as providing suggestions for the future. Using a scoping review, we examine the current state of social science knowledge about the SBW, focusing on its character, socialization practices, and consequences for Black women's physical and mental health. We end by discussing directions for future research on the SBW schema.

Storying Our Mourning and Resistance Through Teaching: Black Women Surviving (and Thriving In) White Spaces

“…Additionally, Black women faculty face the ongoing expectation (i.e., controlling image) to be 'strong,' 'superhuman,' and the 'mammy' (Overstreet, 2021;Thomas et al, 2022;Wilson & Primus, 2021). The mammy trope has been documented in scholarship and these accounts describe the expectation for Black women faculty to perpetually care for others (i.e., students and other faculty) irrespective of their own pain/circumstances (Ferdinand, 2016;Wilson & Primus, 2021).…”

The Construction of Racial Stereotypes and How They Serve as Racial Propaganda

“…Strength Stereotypes. The stereotype that Black people are physically and mentally strong was used to make the case that they were naturally suited for hard labor (Abrams et al, 2014;Kendi, 2016;Thomas et al, 2022). Black people were often referred to as "animal-like" (Goff et al, 2008), a dehumanizing characterization that would have reduced public empathy and concern for the barbaric treatment of enslaved Black people (Harris & Fiske, 2011;Haslam & Loughnan, 2014).…”

“…Black women who internalize stereotypes of Black women as strong, resilient, and selfreliant-known as the "Strong Black woman" schema may experience mental and physical health consequences (Abrams et al, 2014;Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2003;Kerrigan et al, 2007;Mullings, 2005;Staples & Johnson, 1993;Thomas et al, 2022;Wallace, 2007). Endorsement of this stereotype is associated with poorer sleep quality, increased depression and anxiety, and lowered self-esteem (Donovan & West, 2015;Jones et al, 2021;Mclaurin-Jones et al, 2021;Thomas et al, 2004;Stanton et al, 2017;Watson & Hunter, 2015;Woods-Giscombe et al, 2019).…”

The construction of racial stereotypes and how they serve as racial propaganda

“…Strength‐based stereotypes also convey messages about Black Americans' emotional expression and resilience. Black boys and men are surrounded by messages that they should be unemotional and hypermasculine (Brown, 1999; Harris et al., 2011), and Black women often feel pressure to uphold the “Strong Black woman” (SBW) schema, portraying them as emotionally resilient and self‐reliant (Abrams et al., 2014; Beauboeuf‐Lafontant, 2003; Kerrigan et al., 2007; Mullings, 2005; Staples & Johnson, 1993; Thomas et al., 2022; Wallace, 2007). When these stereotypes are internalized by Black Americans, they can have consequential behavioral and psychological ramifications, including emotional suppression and reduced health advocacy (Abrams et al., 2019; Nelson et al., 2020; Sheffield‐Abdullah & Woods‐Giscombe, 2021; Watson & Hunter, 2016; Williams, 2023).…”

“…The stereotype that Black people are physically and mentally strong was used to make the case that they were naturally suited for hard labor (Abrams et al., 2014; Kendi, 2016; Thomas et al., 2022). During the Antebellum Period, Black people were often treated and referred to as “animal‐like” (Goff et al., 2008), a dehumanizing characterization used to reduce public empathy and concern for enslaved Black people (Harris & Fiske, 2011; Haslam & Loughnan, 2014).…”