Carrying the World With the Grace of a Lady and the Grit of a Warrior

Abstract

Across varied disciplines, attempts have been made to capture the multidimensionality of Black womanhood under a unifying framework illustrative of Black women's perceived roles, responsibilities, and experiences of intersectional oppression. The result has been the emergence of a number of divergent but overlapping constructs (e.g., Superwoman Schema, Sojourner Truth Syndrome, Sisterella Complex, and Strong Black Woman [SBW] Schema). The goal of our study is to integrate overlapping attributes of existing constructs beneath a single term while also expounding upon the defining characteristics of the SBW Schema. Thematic analyses were conducted with data gathered from eight focus groups with 44 Black women from the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Women ranged in age from 18 to 91 and were diverse in religious and educational backgrounds. Data analysis involved iterative processes (i.e., continuous development of new codes and constant comparison of themes). Prominent themes identified as characteristics of the SBW Schema were (a) Embodies and Displays Multiple Forms of Strength, (b) Possesses Self/Ethnic Pride in Spite of Intersectional Oppression, (c) Embraces Being Every Woman, and (d) Anchored by Religion/Spirituality. Mental and physical health outcomes (e.g., psychological distress, depressive symptomology, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk) associated with characteristics of the SBW Schema underscore the importance of the construct and its exploration.

Development and Validation of a Preliminary Measure of African American Women’s Gender Role Beliefs

“…Similar to Agency, each of these constructs deal with strength, resiliency, and persevering through adversity. These words and themes have been used to describe African American women (Abrams et al, 2014; Kerrigan et al, 2007; Wallace, 2007; Woods-Giscombé, 2010).…”

WIC Peer Counselors’ Perceptions of Breastfeeding in African American Women with Lower Incomes

“…43 PCs, both African-American and of other races, described that their clients will often not reach out for breastfeeding support or accept support when offered. In an ethnographic study, being independent or “soldiering” was described as an influencer of the infant-feeding decisions of Black women enrolled in WIC.…”

Redefining Resilience and Reframing Resistance: Empowerment Programming with Black Girls to Address Societal Inequities

“…Research with Black girls highlights the potential for traditional, individually-focused resilience frameworks to lead to unrealistic and unjust expectations of Black girls. 14,15 For example, Abrams and colleagues have noted that the strong Black woman or "superwoman" stereotype may lead to expectations that Black girls and women be more individually resilient than other groups. 14 In this way, their thriving in the face of adversity is not recognized because it is masked by unfair expectations that presume their strength and success.…”

“…14,15 For example, Abrams and colleagues have noted that the strong Black woman or "superwoman" stereotype may lead to expectations that Black girls and women be more individually resilient than other groups. 14 In this way, their thriving in the face of adversity is not recognized because it is masked by unfair expectations that presume their strength and success. Further, because they are assumed to be strong and doing well, particularly in comparison to Black boys, Black girls become "superinvisible" and their unique vulnerabilities are minimized and ignored.…”