A Qualitative Exploration of How Black Mothers Experiencing Poverty Make Sense of the Strong Black Woman Stereotype
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 12005015 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Marion L D Malcome (0000-0002-7702-0347, Loyola University Chicago, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2024 |
| Volume | 48 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 373-389 |
| Publication date | 2024-03-14 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Psychology of Women Quarterly (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0361-6843 • E-ISSN: 1471-6402 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1177/03616843241233286 |
| OpenAlex | W4392797239 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 57 |
The strong Black woman (SBW) stereotype is a universal phenomenon understood and experienced by Black women. In this qualitative study, I examined how 16 Black women who are mothers make sense of the SBW stereotype, highlighting how their lived experiences of mothering children in high-burden urban neighborhoods and their experiences at the intersection of race, class, and gender, shape their understanding of the SBW stereotype. Using qualitative phenomenological methods and semi-structured interviews, thematic analysis of interview data revealed three main themes regarding the perception and experience of the SBW stereotype as: (a) ambiguous and contested expectations central to Black motherhood, (b) engenders a sense of loss, and (c) shapes the experience and expression of depression. Study findings support and extend a growing body of work linking the SBW stereotype to depressive symptoms and overall mental health among Black women. This study also highlights the importance of examining how Black women's intersectional identities and contexts, in this case place or where one lives, shape the experience and perception of the SBW stereotype. My hope is that clinicians develop a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the SBW stereotype and its potential mental health effects for all Black mothers. Findings also suggest a need for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to create empowering opportunities for Black mothers, especially those mothering in impoverished contexts, to express their authentic and whole selves in service of healing themselves, their families, and communities
Developmental psychology · Interpretative phenomenological analysis · Mental health · Perception · Psychotherapist · Qualitative research · Sociology · Stereotype (UML · Thematic analysis · Family Support in Illness · Psychology · Racial and Ethnic Identity Research · Social Psychology · Work-Family Balance Challenges
Reframing Mental Health Through a Developmental–Ecological Lens
Superwoman Schema Endorsement and its Association to Perceived Stress During Pregnancy and Birth Outcomes among Non-Hispanic Black American Women
We Have to Be in Fear”
Perspectives on the Strong Black Woman Schema Based on SES Among Black Women
Dialling Up’ and ‘Dialling Down’
Qualitative interviewing
Phenomenological research methods
Memoing in qualitative research
Health Equity Among Black Women in the United States
Achieving Integration in Mixed Methods Designs—Principles and Practices
Comparison of Convenience Sampling and Purposive Sampling
All our kin
Reconstructing Womanhood
Mothering
Behind the Mask of the Strong Black Woman
Toni Morrison and Motherhood
Conceptual and design thinking for thematic analysis
Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis
Interviews – Learning the Craft of Qualitative Research Interviewing
Toward a Conceptualization of Mixed Methods Phenomenological Research
Anxiety and depression among African American women
My strong, Black daughter
Critical Feminisms
Beyond the Binary
No [Right] Way to Be a Black Woman”
Carrying the World With the Grace of a Lady and the Grit of a Warrior
I’m a Strong Independent Black Woman”
The Misunderstood Schema of the Strong Black Woman
Stereotypes of Black American Women Related to Sexuality and Motherhood
The Silencing the Self Scale
Social Media Contributions to Strong Black Woman Ideal Endorsement and Black Women’s Mental Health
Underneath the Mask of the Strong Black Woman Schema
Embodying Strength
Coping with Poverty
Reducing disparities and achieving equity in African American women’s health
Missing the mark
Developing a Conceptual Framework of Black Women’s Gendered Racial Identity Development
Rethinking Strength
Construction and initial validation of the Gendered Racial Microaggressions Scale for Black women
Performing Black womanhood
Using thematic analysis in psychology
Mapping the Margins
Why the Media's Role in Issues of Race and Ethnicity Should be in the Spotlight
Designing and Conducting Mixed Methods Research
Qualitative inquiry and research design
Do US Black Women Experience Stress-Related Accelerated Biological Aging
Superwoman Schema
A Method of Phenomenological Interviewing
Whose Side Are We On
You Have to Show Strength
Do I Really Need to Go and See Somebody? Black Women's Perceptions of Help-Seeking for Depression
Strong Black Woman Schema and Psychological Distress
I Had To Be Strong
Stress and Mental Health
To Denigrate, Ignore, or Disrupt
| Citations per year | 5 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |