Psychology of Black Womanhood

An authoritative, jargon-free, affordable, and holistic exploration of interdisciplinary psychological and sociological research on the diversity and complexity of Black girls and women’s intersectional lived experiences across the lifespan, with implications for practice in counseling, social work, 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