Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Traumatic Stress Symptoms Among Black Women

Abstract

We investigated the relations between gendered racial microaggressions (i.e., subtle gendered racism), gendered racial socialization, and traumatic stress symptoms among Black women. We hypothesized that gendered racial microaggressions would be significantly associated with traumatic stress symptoms and that gendered racial socialization would moderate the relations between gendered racial microaggressions and traumatic stress symptoms. Participants were 226 Black women from across the United States who completed an online survey. Results from a hierarchical multiple regression analysis indicated that a greater frequency of gendered racial microaggressions was significantly associated with greater traumatic stress symptoms; internalized gendered racial oppression moderated the relations between gendered racial microaggressions and traumatic stress symptoms. The results of this study can inform future research on Black women’s experiences of gendered racism and the role of gendered racial socialization in their lives. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ’s website at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/pwq/suppl/index

Is Physical Activity a Buffer? Gendered Racial Microaggressions and Anxiety Among African American Women

“…Based on the current sample, the frequency scores (α = .93) and stress appraisal scores (α = .94) demonstrated good internal consistency. Confirmatory factor analyses supported a multidimensional four-factor model that had an acceptable-to-good model fit (Lewis & Neville, 2015); however, several published studies also utilized a total mean score (Lewis et al, 2017; Moody & Lewis, 2019; M. G. Williams & Lewis, 2019).…”

“…Lewis et al (2017) have extended the biopsychosocial model of perceived racism (Clark et al, 1999) to gendered racism to investigate the link between gendered racial microaggressions and mental health outcomes. Quantitative research has found that greater experiences of gendered racial microaggressions are significantly related to greater psychological distress, symptoms of depression, traumatic stress, and poorer mental and physical health outcomes (Lewis et al, 2017; Lewis & Neville, 2015; Moody & Lewis, 2019; M. G. Williams & Lewis, 2019).…”

Disparities in food insecurity at the intersection of race and sexual orientation: A population-based study of adult women in the United States

“…Our study was rooted in intersectionality theory, which argues that women who hold multiple minority social positions (i.e., gender, race, and sexual orientation) experience unique oppression and discrimination due to their interlocking social positions as Black and sexual minority ( Crenshaw, 1989 ). For Black women and Black SMW, experiencing intersectional oppression is linked with poor mental and physical health ( Agénor et al, 2014 , 2019 ; Kim et al, 2017 ; Lewis et al, 2017 ; Moody & Lewis, 2019 ); however, these studies do not investigate how intersectional oppression—approximated by holding multiple, intersecting, marginalized social positions (i.e., multiple marginalization)—confers excess risk for resource loss, including food insecurity ( Link & Phelan, 1995 ; Phelan et al, 2010 ; Warnecke et al, 2008 ).…”

Self-esteem assessment of young female university students according to race/skin color criteria

“…Based on previous studies that demonstrate an association between exposure to racial discrimination and negative mental health outcomes (11)(12)(13) the hypothesis was set out that young black female university students young-adults (15) . previous research studies carried out in the study area.…”

“…Regarding the racial differences in self-esteem, researchers point out the link between racial discrimination and traumatic symptoms in university students ( 11 - 13 ) . Although it is assumed that the self-esteem of black women is more compromised when compared to non-black women, given the multiple violence to which they are exposed due to racism ( 11 - 12 ) , no studies were found that were dedicated to comparing the levels of self-esteem among these populations to support such an assumption in the Brazilian context. On the other hand, international studies comparing the effects of ethnic-racial identity on self-esteem show that there is a higher level of self-esteem among young black women than in any other young female ethnic group ( 14 ) .…”