Challenging Controlling Images, Oppression, Poverty, and Other Structural Constraints: Survival Strategies Among African–American Women in Distressed Households

Abstract

Powerful controlling images perpetuate misguided messages about impoverished African American women that contribute to the oppression these women endure. These images inform policies and behavior that create and maintain structural barriers such as lack of access to education and meaningful employment further marginalizing oppressed individuals. This article uses in-depth interview data to analyze interlocking oppressions in the lived experience of impoverished African American women. The authentic women’s voices presented serve as a counter narrative of resistance. Our larger goal in writing this paper is to encourage the public, policy makers, service providers and impoverished African American women themselves to fight against controlling images by deconstructing personal biases, educating the public, and developing culturally congruent interventions to social problems.

Is there room for resilience? A scoping review and critique of substance use literature and its utilization of the concept of resilience

“…Many provide no definition, theoretical backing, or operationalization of resilience (e.g., [ 52 – 58 ]). Others use resilience as a synonym for ‘restraint’ from drug use [ 59 – 62 ], or as a descriptor for individual(s) who adapt well or display toughness [ 11 , 46 , 63 – 65 ]. The remaining 77 studies selected provide a definition of resilience, or attempt to operationalize (e.g., via scales) the concept in some manner (Table 1 ).…”

“…Additionally, individuals who use crack are cognizant of the risks of their environment and many make a concerted effort to avoid or minimize risks for themselves in a number of ways (e.g., using alone or with trusted others, leaving dangerous situations) [ 8 , 41 – 44 ]. Even among the most victimized crack-using groups, joy in daily successes and hope for future endeavours have been reported [ 36 , 45 , 46 ].…”

Low-Income Black Mothers Parenting Adolescents in the Mass Incarceration Era: The Long Reach of Criminalization

“…Black mothers' vulnerability to punishment is rooted in racialized, classed, and gendered controlling images of Black motherhood as neglectful and dependent on the state (i.e., "the welfare queen"), aggressive and domineering (i.e., "the Black matriarch"), and superstrong (i.e., "the strong Black woman"). These images bolster and reproduce the widespread notion that Black mothers' individual decisions and behaviors are solely responsible for their children's outcomes (Dow 2015;Elliott and Reid 2016;Gurusami 2019;Soss et al 2011;Windsor, Dunlap, and Golub 2011). In political and popular discourse, Black mothers have been blamed for transferring deviant attitudes to their children, resulting in successive generations of poverty and delinquency (Collins 2000;Elliott, Brenton, and Powell 2018;Hancock 2004;Roberts 2002).…”

The woman in the (rearview) mirror: Viewers’ attitudes toward objectified car selfies of Black and White women.

“…More research on the effects of the sexual objectification of Black women specifically is also needed, given that negative appraisals of hypersexualized Black women have numerous psychological, social, economic, and policy implications for Black women. For example, qualitative research suggests that notions of Black women—especially impoverished Black women—as hypersexual places them at greater risk for sexual harassment and assault (Windsor et al, 2011). The Jezebel image also has consequences for Black women’s romantic relationships.…”