Psychology of Black Womanhood

Psychology of Black Womanhood is the first textbook to provide an authoritative, jargon-free, affordable, and holistic exploration of the sociohistorical and psychological experiences of Black girls and women in the United States, while discussing the intersection of their identities. The authors include research on young, middle-aged, and maturing women; LGBTQ+ women and non-binary individuals; women with disabilities; and women across social classes. This textbook is firmly rooted in Black feminist, womanist, and psychological frameworks that incorporate literature from related disciplines, such as sociology, Black/African American studies, women's studies, and public health. Psychology of Black Womanhood speaks to the psychological study of experiences of girls and women of African descent in the United States and their experiences in the context of identity development, education, religion, body image, physical and mental health, racialized gendered violence, sex and sexuality, work, relationships, aging, motherhood, and activism. This textbook has implications for practice in counseling, social work, health care, education, advocacy, and policy.

Danielle Dickens, PhD is associate professor of psychology at Spelman College. Dr. Dickens uses an interdisciplinary approach and pulls together her knowledge and experience as an instructor, researcher, and mentor around the intersectional issues of race/ethnicity, gender, age, and class in higher education and the workplace. As a Black feminist social psychologist, her research focuses on the identity development and identity formation of Black women and how they navigate the world. She utilizes qualitative and quantitative methodologies to examine Black women's intersectional identities, with an emphasis on their experiences in the workplace, higher education, and in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Dr. Dickens is most interested in examining how Black women engage in identity shifting as a coping strategy, and the benefits and costs of identity shifting on Black women's physical and mental health. In her second line of research, Dickens examines the social-psychological determinants of academic and career development of Black women. These projects have been funded from agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, American Psychological Foundation, and Goldman Sachs. She is a recipient of several awards, such as the 2019 American Psychological Association (APA) Division 35 Mary Roth Walsh Teaching the Psychology of Women Award, the 2020 APA Division 35 Section 1 Psychology of Black Women Foremothers Mentorship Early Career Award, and the 2023 Women of Color Initiative Outstanding Faculty Impact Award.

Preface
Our Positionality
How This Book Came About: Centering Spelman College
Content Features
Pedagogical Features
Supplements
Acknowledgments
CHAPTER 1: Centering the Margins: Studying the Psychology of Black Womanhood
Introduction to the Psychological Study of Black Womanhood in the United States
Defining Black Women in the United States
Psychology Professional Organizations Responses
Disseminating Research Findings
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 2: Still, We Rise: A Black Feminist and Womanist Psychology of Black Womanhood
Introduction to Psychology of Black Women
The Experiences of Black Women in the U.S.
History of Black Women in Psychology
Toward the Development of Psychology of Black Women
The Psychology of Black Women
Black Women in the United States
Types of Feminism
Biases, Prejudice, Discrimination, and Cultural Representations Against Black Women
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 3: I am a Black Woman and I'm Proud: Black Women's Socialization and Gendered Racial Identity Development
Black Girls and Women's Self Concept
Black Girl's and Women's Identity Development
Black Girlhood
Understanding Black Girls and Women's Gendered Racial Identity
Theories that Shape Gendered Racial Identity Development
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 4: Disturbing the Binary: Rethinking Racialized Sex and Gender among Black Women (She/Her/They)
Moving Beyond Sex/Gender
The Social Construction of Racialized Gender and Sex
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 5: (Mis)Education: Black Girls' and Women's Experiences in School Settings
Education Profile of Danielle Dickens, Ph.D.
Education Profile of Dionne Stephens, Ph.D.
Historical Perspectives of Education
A Demographic Profile of the Educational Status of Black Women
Experiences of Black Women in Higher Education
Factors Influencing Academic Adjustment
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 6: Black is Beautiful: Examinations of Black Women's Beauty and Bodies
History of Black Women's Beauty Images in Western Contexts
Body Image
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 7: Let's Talk About Sex: Black Women's Sexual Health and Sexualization
Contextualizing Black Women's Sexuality and Sexualization in the United States
Black Women's Sexuality in Psychology Research
Representations of Black Women's Sexuality
Attitudes and Perceptions of Black Women's Sexuality
Learning about Sex
Sexual Health Outcomes & Behaviors
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 8: Watering Our Roots: Black Women's Kinship, Sisterhood, and Partner Relationships
Introduction to Black Women's Relationship Roles
Black Love: Romantic Relationships
Black Love and Marriage
Relationship Maintenance
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 9: Dear Mama: Motherhood and Mothering in the Black Community
A History of Black Motherhood
Menstruation
Controlling Black Motherhood
Black Women and Pregnancy
Differing Constructions of Motherhood
Black Feminist and Womanist Mothering
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 10: Work Hard and Hustle Harder: Black Women in the Workplace
History of Black Women's Work in the U.S.
Race-and-Gender Pay Gap
Gendered Racial Discrimination Experiences at Work
Harassment in the Workplace
Black Women and Leadership
Mentoring
Balancing Self, Work, and Family
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 11: Let the Church Say...: Prayer, Ordinance, Worship, Religiosity, and Spirituality in the Lives of Black Women
History of Religion, Spirituality and the Black Church
Religion, Spirituality, and Atheism
Religious Socialization
Gender Roles in the Church
Womanist Theology
Worship, Spirituality, and Meditation
Religion's Role in Addressing Physical and Mental Health Issues
Religion, Spirituality, and the Church as a Site of Resistance
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 12: Body and Soul: Black Women's Physical Health
Factors Influencing Black Women's Physical Health
A Historical Perspective of Physical Health Disparities
Healthcare Systems
Select Health Conditions among Black Women
Holistic Health
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 13: Still Standing: Black Women's Mental Health and Well-Being
Stressors
Black Women and Mental Health Conditions
Black Women and Clinical Trials
Promoting Wellness
Psychological Interventions
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 14: Age Ain't Nothing but a Number: Addressing the Realities of Maturing Black Women
Aging and Black Womanhood
Physical and Mental Health of Aging Black Women
Economic Stability
Positive Trends Embraced by Black Women Aging
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 15: Black Women's Lives Matter: The Silent Struggle against Racialized Gender Based Violence
Introduction to Violence against Black Women's Bodies
Historical Violence and Black Girlhood and Womanhood
Rape Culture
Types of Violence against Black Women
Surviving and Thriving: Coping Responses
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
CHAPTER 16: #SayHerName: Black Women's Social and Political Activism
History of Black Women's Activism
Current Black-Women-Led Activist Movements
Black Women in Politics
Activist Self Care
Policy and Practical Implications
Conclusion
References
Index
About the Authors