Disentangling the 'Strong Black Women' Schema: Resetting Expectations

915 Monroe Street Southwest,Huntsville AL 35801

30 April, 2022

Description

This wellness workshop will discuss the unique intersection between gender and race for Black women, and how it informs mental health. The 'Strong Black Woman' trope symbolizes an overly reilient and indestructible individual in many communities and societies, and has historically been representative of a Black woman's nature to conquer adversity. However, research has pointed out how the ideal of impenetrable strength can lead to poor physical and mental health outcomes for Black women. Depression, anxiety, and binge eating are just a few of the psychological outcomes that have been correlated to this identity, and the roots of this persona are linked to deeper culture and social factors that further marginalize African American women in unique ways. This workshop will discuss some of the fallacies associated with the Strong Black Woman schema and provide a discussion on ways to reframe maladaptive beliefs.