Far-Right Misogynoir: A Critical Thematic Analysis of Black College Women's Experiences With White Male Supremacist Influences

Abstract

Amid the (re)surgence of far-right ideologies in the United States of America, we introduce the concept of far-right misogynoir as a lens for understanding Black women's experiences of white and male supremacist influences and actions. Using a qualitative case study, we examined individual interview data with 17 Black women college students (18–24 years) from a selective, predominantly white, liberal arts college in the Northeast. Using Black feminist qualitative methods and critical thematic analysis, we highlight Black women's experiences of far-right misogynoir, as well as their social and psychological meaning-making of such experiences. The women discussed various manifestations of far-right misogynoir, including: (a) symbolic representations on campus, (b) interpersonal violence and intimidation, (c) Trumpism on social media, and (d) intellectual disrespect in classrooms. Regarding their social and psychological meaning-making of far-right misogynoir, the women described: (e) safety concerns, (f) social exclusion, and (g) harm to emotional well-being. Our findings reveal the unique adverse influences of far-right misogynoir on Black college women's psychological health. We discuss implications for scholarly discourse, for addressing far-right misogynoir, and for policy and practice to support Black women college students’ well-being.

A Black feminist study of freedom, community care, and self-definition among Black college women attending predominantly White institutions.

“…Examining freedom by centering on Black college women’s perspectives may encourage scholars to reimagine what is possible, useful, and necessary in how we approach the purpose and desired outcomes for students in higher education (hooks, 1994; Patton & Croom, 2017; Porter et al, 2020; Tichavakunda, 2021). Moreover, exploring freedom among Black women attending predominantly White institutions (PWIs)—institutions with social cultures, traditions, and policies that systematically benefit and privilege White students (Cabrera et al, 2017; Gusa, 2010; Leath, Scott, et al, 2022)—provides a critical and intersectional lens on how they claim the time, space, and supports necessary to invest in their freedom amidst the omnipresent realities of capitalism, misogynoir, 3 patriarchy, and White supremacy (Greyerbiehl & Mitchell, 2014; Keels, 2020; Onuoha et al, 2023; Tichavakunda, 2021; Volpe & Jones, 2021). In the present study, we explore Black college women’s freedom through a critical thematic analysis of interview data with Black women attending PWIs who describe how they understand and cultivate freedom for themselves.…”

“…Thus, compared to broader campus settings where Black women may feel ostracized, silenced, or objectified due to the culture of Whiteness and misogynoir (Alexander & Bodenhorn, 2015; L. C. Brown et al, 2021; Onuoha et al, 2023), BCCs are prime sites to intentionally foster Black women’s freedom.…”

Antifascist praxis in developmental science: Possibilities for collective resistance to fascism

“…For example, given that white Christian nationalism spreads both white and male supremacism, scholars have called for counter-recruitment of Christian youth (Nalani & Yoshikawa, 2023). Scholarship on how to apply counter-recruitment strategies in Christian contexts would need to consider intersections of white and male supremacism, such as far-right misogynoir (Arbeit et al, 2020;Nalani & Yoshikawa, 2023;Onuoha et al, 2023).…”

“…In another study, researchers focused on identity related to race and gender; they introduced the framework of far‐right misogynoir (“hate and prejudice toward Black women that stem from far‐right white and male supremacist influences”) to center Black women in analysis of intersecting white and male supremacist dimensions of fascism (Onuoha et al., 2023, p. 181). Antifascist scholarship on youth counter‐recruitment can continue to examine how far‐right misogynoir (Onuoha et al., 2023) and other experiences of intersectionality (Esposito & Evans‐Winters, 2021) influence youth's motivations and opportunities for antifascist community organizing. For example, given that white Christian nationalism spreads both white and male supremacism, scholars have called for counter‐recruitment of Christian youth (Nalani & Yoshikawa, 2023).…”

“…Quantitative work can hone and develop measures to identify and differentiate among fascist influences in youth's lives (e.g., Salazar et al., 2023). Qualitative work can highlight how youth experience fascist threats, to hear in their own words what they face and how they resist (e.g., Leath et al., 2022; Onuoha et al., 2023). Integrating antifascist praxis into approaches to liberatory action research can develop methods through which to build mass movements (e.g., Jacquez et al., 2021).…”