No Place to Rest: African American Political Attitudes and the Myth of Black Women's Strength
Abstract
In recent years, feminist scholars and black popular culture have turned a critical eye on the myth of the “strong black woman,” revealing negative health and psychological consequences for African American women who try to fulfill the superhuman image. This study is the first to bring empirical evidence to bear on this question of the political effects of the myth. Using data collected in the 1999 Chicago African American Attitudes Study, this article addresses the political consequences of the myth of the strong black woman, specifically asking: How is the myth of the strong black woman understood among African Americans and how does the idea that black women are endowed with a natural, superhuman capacity to overcome obstacles affect black political attitudes?
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African American men's disadvantaged and disenfranchised status restricted their capacity to give financial and emotional support to partners and families.
“This was related partially to the compromised and disenfranchised position of African American men that limited their ability to provide the financial and emotional support to their partners and families (Harris-Lacewell, 2001; Mullings, 2006).”
From Superwoman Schema: African American Women’s Views on Stress, Strength, and Health (2010) · cites this paper as Harris-Lacewell, 2001
The Superwoman concept arose in part from African American women's efforts to counter demeaning societal images of Black womanhood and to bring attention to unrecognized strengths that endured through oppression and hardship.
“The concept of Superwoman developed partially as a result of African American women’s efforts to counteract negative societal characterizations of African American womanhood (such as “Mammy,” “Jezebel,” and “Welfare Queen”) and to highlight unsung attributes that developed and continue to exist despite oppression and adversity (Beauboeuf-Lafontant, 2003; Harris-Lacewell, 2001).”
From Superwoman Schema: African American Women’s Views on Stress, Strength, and Health (2010) · cites this paper as Harris-Lacewell, 2001
Cites
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, JOHN HENRYISM, AND HYPERTENSION IN BLACKS AND WHITES
JAMES, S. A., STROGATZ, D. S., WING, S. B., & RAMSEY, D. L. (1987) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a114706 · Cited by 315 · see citing works
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Superwoman Schema: African American Women’s Views on Stress, Strength, and Health
Woods-Giscombé, C. L. (2010) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732310361892 · Cited by 802 · see citing works
Abrams, J. A., Hill, A., & Maxwell, M. (2019) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-018-0956-y · Cited by 267 · see citing works
Trauma, binge eating, and the “strong Black woman”.
Harrington, E. F., Crowther, J. H., & Shipherd, J. C. (2010) · Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0019174 · Cited by 177 · see citing works
- Authors
- Harris-Lacewell, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Chicago (US)
- Corresponding author
- Harris-Lacewell, Melissa
- Venue
- Women & Politics
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2001-06
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 1-33
- ISSN
- 0195-7732 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1712813019
- Cited by
- 99
- References
- 1
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 4 · 2013: 6 · 2012: 6
- FWCI
- 2.99
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Women Politics & Policy (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Feminist Theory and Gender Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Race, History, and American Society
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Politics and Representation
- Keywords
- African American women, Black popular culture, feminist criticism, stereotypes of Black women
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