Traditional Femininity Versus Strong Black Women Ideologies and Stress Among Black Women

Abstract

The construct of femininity has typically been conceptualized from a Eurocentric perspective as traditional femininity ideology (TFI). This hegemonic femininity construction might not be fully applicable to African American women given their unique history and experiences. Moreover, the strong Black woman ideology (SBWI) which, although formulated during slavery, has become an adaptive and idealized cultural idealization. Both constructs have been associated with stress. The current study sought to investigate the relative strength of the links between TFI versus SBWI and perceived stress among a sample of African American women, and whether these relationships were moderated by feminine gender role stress and racial stress. Participants were 292 African American women recruited via social media and students from a Midwestern university for a web-based survey. As hypothesized, SBWI accounted for unique variance in perceived stress; however, TFI did not explain any of the variance. Results also indicated that gender role stress approached significance in its moderation of the link between TFI and perceived stress, although racial stress did significantly moderate the relationship between SBWI and perceived stress.

“I’m a Strong Independent Black Woman”: The Strong Black Woman Schema and Mental Health in College-Aged Black Women

“…Although theory supports the exploration of the SBWS ′ relations to mental health, research on the schema and its associations are still emerging (Davis et al, 2018; Donovan & West, 2015; Etowa et al, 2017; Harrington et al, 2010; Liao et al, 2020; Watson & Hunter, 2015). Stereotypes about strength and resilience among Black women have been regarded as necessary and adaptive.…”

Strength Under Pressure: Superwoman Schema (SWS) and Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) among Black Women

“…Obligation to Manifest Strength. The SWS perpetuates the idea that Black women should remain strong, suppress emotion to help others, and succeed despite limited resources (Davis et al, 2018;Watson, 2014;Woods-Giscombe, 2010;Young, 2018). Rooted in historical oppression which forced Black women to suppress anger, pain, and sadness, Black women's strength today is seen as unbending to life's circumstances, which exemplifies strength against all the odds as seen in historical representations of enslaved Black women (Collins, 2000;Young, 2018;Abrams, 2010).…”

“…According to the 2009 U.S census data, 50.4% of all Black children lived in a single household (U.S. Census Data, 2009). This factor may explain one reason why some Black woman have adopted the SWS; among Black women who head singleparent households, there may be a need to develop strong, independent, and selfefficacious attitudes (Davis, Levant, & Pryor, 2018). Black women must compensate for the absence of fathers, and the adoption of masculine gender roles is in direct conflict with the hegemonic feminine ideal, which is already less accessible to Black women (Davis et al, 2018;Abrams, 2010).…”

“…This factor may explain one reason why some Black woman have adopted the SWS; among Black women who head singleparent households, there may be a need to develop strong, independent, and selfefficacious attitudes (Davis, Levant, & Pryor, 2018). Black women must compensate for the absence of fathers, and the adoption of masculine gender roles is in direct conflict with the hegemonic feminine ideal, which is already less accessible to Black women (Davis et al, 2018;Abrams, 2010). Goodmark (2008) asserts that this characteristic may put Black women at risk for victim-blaming because they do not fit the portrait of the paradigmatic victim, who is passive and submissive; thus, Black women do not have the privilege to claim victimization because the characteristics are shaped by white ideals contributing to Black victims being deemed criminals in the reporting process.…”

“…Historically, media portrayals of Black stereotypes such as the Mammy, Jezebel, and Sapphire have been generated as a mockery of Black women, which may reinforce and perpetuate society's perception of Black women as inferior (Bell & Mattis, 2000;Gaines, 2018). These destructive images have become prominent stereotypes from which Black women still work to break away, both in terms of how others may perceive them, as well as in how they may perceive themselves (Allard, 1990;Davis et al, 2018;Bell & Mattis, 2000).…”