Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Coping with Gendered Racial Microaggressions among Black Women College Students

  • ARTICLES
  • Published:
Journal of African American Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this study, we explored the strategies that Black women use to cope with gendered racial microaggressions, or the subtle and everyday verbal, behavioral, and environmental expressions of oppression based on the intersection of one’s race and gender. A total of 17 Black women undergraduate, graduate, and professional students participated in one of two semi-structured focus group interviews. Results from dimensional analysis indicated five coping strategies: two resistance coping strategies (i.e., Using One’s Voice as Power, Resisting Eurocentric Standards), one collective coping strategy (i.e., Leaning on One’s Support Network), and two self-protective coping strategies (i.e., Becoming a Black Superwoman, Becoming Desensitized and Escaping). The theme of Picking and Choosing One’s Battles was also uncovered as a process whereby participants made deliberate decisions about when and how to address the microaggressions they experienced. Findings indicated that Black women used a combination of coping strategies depending on contextual factors, which supports and extends previous research. Implications and directions for future research in the field of African American studies are discussed.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen, M. L., & Collins, P. H. (2007). Race, class, and gender: an anthology. Belmont: Thompson Wadsworth.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bacchus, D. N. A. (2008). Coping with work-related stress: a study of the use of coping resources among professional black women. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 17, 60–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bacchus, D. N. A., & Holley, L. C. (2004). Spirituality as a coping resource: the experiences of professional Black women. Journal of Ethnic & Cultural Diversity in Social Work, 13(4), 65–84.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Banyard, V. L., & Graham-Bermann, S. A. (1993). Can women cope? A gender analysis of theories of coping with stress. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 17(3), 303–318.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barnett, R. C., Biener, L., & Baruch, G. K. (Eds.). (1987). Gender and stress. New York: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Beauboeuf-Lafontant, T. (2007). You have to show strength: an exploration of gender, race, and depression. Gender and Society, 21(1), 28–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing grounded theory: a practical guide through qualitative analysis. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clark, R., Anderson, N. B., Clark, V. R., & Williams, D. R. (1999). Racism as a stressor for African Americans. American Psychologist, 54, 805–816.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cole, E. R. (2009). Intersectionality and research in psychology. American Psychologist, 64, 170–180.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Collins, P. H. (1990). Black feminist thought: knowledge, consciousness, and the politics of empowerment. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, P. H. (1998). Fighting words: black women and the search for justice. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Constantine, M. G., Smith, L., Redington, R. M., & Owens, D. (2008). Racial microaggressions against black counseling and counseling psychology faculty: a central challenge in the multicultural counseling movement. Journal of Counseling and Development, 86(3), 348–355.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Crenshaw, K. (1993). Demarginalizing the intersection of race and sex: a black feminist critique of antidiscrimination doctrine, feminist theory and antiracist politics. In D. K. Weisbert (Ed.), Pp. 383–395 in Feminist Legal Theory: Foundations. Philadelphia: Temple University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dovidio, J. F., & Gaertner, S. L. (1986). Prejudice, discrimination, and racism. San Diego: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dovidio, J. F., Gaertner, S. L., Kawakami, K., & Hodson, G. (2002). Why can’t we all just get along? Interpersonal biases and interracial distrust. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 8(2), 88–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Edmondson Bell, E. L. J., & Nkomo, S. N. (1998). Armoring: learning to withstand racial oppression. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 29(2), 285–295.

    Google Scholar 

  • Essed, P. (1991). Understanding everyday racism: an interdisciplinary theory. Thousand Oaks: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Everett, J. E., Hall, J. C., & Hamilton-Mason, J. (2010). Everyday conflict and daily stressors: coping responses of Black women. Affilia: Journal of Women and Social Work, 25(1), 30–42.

    Google Scholar 

  • Geronimus, A. T., Hicken, M., Keene, D., & Bound, J. (2006). Weathering and age patterns of allostatic load scores among blacks and whites in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, 96(5), 826–833.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Green, T. L., & Darity, W. A. (2010). Under the skin: using theories from biology and the social sciences to explore the mechanisms behind the Black-White health gap. American Journal of Public Health, 100(S1), S36–S40.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Greene, B. (1994). African American Women. In L. Comas-Díaz & B. Greene (Eds.), Pp. 10–29 in women of color: integrating ethnic and gender identities in psychotherapy. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harrell, S. P. (2000). A multidimensional conceptualization of racism-related stress: implications for the well-being of people of color. The American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 70, 42–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harris-Perry, M. V. (2011). Sister citizen: shame, stereotypes, and black women in America: for colored girls who’ve considered politics when being strong isn’t enough. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heppner, P. P., Heppner, M. J., Lee, D.-G., Wang, Y.-W., Park, H.-J., & Wang, L.-F. (2006). Development and validation of a collectivist coping styles inventory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53(1), 107–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan-Zachery, J. S. (2009). Black women, cultural images, and social policy. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klonoff, E. A., & Landrine, H. (1995). The schedule of sexist events: a measure of lifetime and recent sexist discrimination in women’s lives. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 439–472.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Krueger, R. A. (1994). Focus groups: a practical guide for applied research (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

  • Landrine, H., & Klonoff, E. A. (1996). The schedule of racist events: a measure of racial discrimination and a study of its negative physical and mental health consequences. Journal of Black Psychology, 22, 144–168.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landrine, H., Klonoff, E. A., Gibbs, J., Manning, V., & Lund, M. (1995). Physical and psychiatric correlates of gender discrimination: an application of the schedule of sexist events. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 473–492.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Landry, B. (2006). Race, gender, race, gender, and class: theory and methods of analysis. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, appraisal, and coping. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1987). Transactional theory and research on emotions and coping. European Journal of Personality, 1, 141–169.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D. L., & Ahn, S. (2011). Racial discrimination and Asian mental health: a meta-analysis. The Counseling Psychologist, 39, 463–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D. L., & Ahn, S. (2012). Discrimination against Latina/os: a meta-analysis of individual-level resources and outcomes. The Counseling Psychologist, 40(1), 28–65.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis-Coles, M. E., & Constantine, M. G. (2006). Racism-related stress, africultural coping, and religious problem-solving among African Americans. Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology, 12(3), 433–443.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lewis, J. A., Mendenhall, R., Harwood, S., & Browne-Huntt, M. (2010). “Ain’t I a Woman? The experience of racial and gender microaggressions at a predominantly white institution”. Poster presented at the 27th Annual Conference on Multicultural Psychology and Education, Columbia Teachers College, New York, NY.

  • Lorde, A. (1980). The Cancer Journals. Argyle: Spinsters.

    Google Scholar 

  • McConahay, J. B. (1986). Modern racism, ambivalence, and the modern racism scale. In J. F. Dovidio & S. L. Gaertner (Eds.), Pp. 91–125 in prejudice, discrimination, and racism. San Diego: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Merino, M.-E., Mellor, D. J., Saiz, J. L., & Quilaqueo, D. (2009). Perceived discrimination amongst the indigenous Mapuche people in Chile: some comparisons with Australia. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 32(5), 802–822.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow, S. L. (2005). Quality and trustworthiness in qualitative research in counseling psychology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 250–260.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neville, H. A., Lilly, R., Duran, G., Lee, R. M., & Browne, L. (2000). Construction and initial validation of the color-blind racial attitudes scale (CoBRAS). Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47(1), 59–70.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okazawa-Rey, M., Robinson, T., & Ward, J. V. (1987). Black women and the politics of skin color and hair. Women & Therapy, 6(1–2), 89–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pascoe, E. A., & Richman, L. S. (2009). Perceived discrimination and health: a meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 135, 531–554.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pierce, C. M., Carew, J. V., Pierce-Gonzalez, D., & Wills, D. (1977). An experiment in racism: TV commercials. Education and Urban Society, 10, 61–87.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pieterse, A. L., Todd, N. R., Neville, H. A., & Carter, R. T. (2012). Perceived racism and mental health among Black American adults: a meta-analytic review. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 59(1), 1–9.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shorter-Gooden, K. (2004). Multiple resistance strategies: how African American women cope with racism and sexism. Journal of Black Psychology, 30, 406–425.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Solórzano, D. G., Ceja, M., & Yosso, T. J. (2000). Critical race theory, racial microaggressions, and campus racial climate: the experiences of African American college students. Journal of Negro Education, 69(1/2), 60–73.

    Google Scholar 

  • Strauss, A. L., & Corbin, J. M. (1990). Basics of qualitative research: techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. New York: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W. (2005). Racism and the conspiracy of silence: presidential address. The Counseling Psychologist, 33(1), 100–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W. (2010). Microaggressions in everyday life: race, gender, and sexual orientation. Hoboken: Wiley & Sons, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., & Capodilupo, C. M. (2008). Racial, gender, and sexual orientation microaggressions: implications for counseling and psychotherapy. In D. W. Sue & D. Sue (Eds.), Pp. in Counseling the Culturally Diverse: Theory and Practice. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., Bucceri, J. M., Linn, A. I., Nadal, K. L., & Torino, G. C. (2007a). Racial microaggressions and the Asian American experience. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 13, 72–81.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., Torino, G. C., Bucceri, J. M., Holder, A. M. B., Nadal, K. L., & Esquilin, M. (2007b). Racial microaggressions in everyday life: implications for clinical practice. American Psychologist, 62, 271–286.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sue, D. W., Capodilupo, C. M., & Holder, A. M. B. (2008). Racial microaggressions in the life experience of Black Americans. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 39(3), 329–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taylor, R. J., Chatters, L. M., & Levin, J. S. (2004). Religion in the lives of African Americans: social, physiological, and health perspectives. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thomas, A. J., Witherspoon, K. M., & Speight, S. L. (2008). Gendered racism, psychological distress, and coping styles of African American women. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 14, 307–314.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, C. E., & Neville, H. A. (1999). Racism, mental health, and mental practice. The Counseling Psychologist, 27(2), 155–216.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ward, E. C. (2005). Keeping it real: a grounded theory study of African American clients engaging in counseling at a community mental health agency. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52(4), 471–481.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woods-Giscombé, C. L. (2010). Superwoman schema: African American women’s views on stress, strength, and health. Qualitative Health Research, 20(5), 668–683.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woods-Giscombé, C. L., & Black, A. R. (2010). Mind–body interventions to reduce risk for health disparities related to stress and strength among African American women: the potential of mindfulness-based stress reduction, loving-kindness, and the NTU therapeutic framework. Complementary Health Practice Review, 15(3), 115–131.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 226 Education Building, 1310 S. Sixth Street, Champaign, IL, 61820, USA

    Jioni A. Lewis

  2. Departments of Sociology, African American Studies, and Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA

    Ruby Mendenhall

  3. Department of Urban and Regional Planning, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA

    Stacy A. Harwood

  4. Division of Biomedical Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, USA

    Margaret Browne Huntt

Authors
  1. Jioni A. Lewis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Ruby Mendenhall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Stacy A. Harwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Margaret Browne Huntt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jioni A. Lewis.

Additional information

This project was funded in part by the University of Illinois Center on Democracy in a Multiracial Society and the Graduate College Focal Point Grant. We would like to thank Helen A. Neville for her helpful feedback on this article. Preliminary results of this study were presented at the annual meeting of the American Psychological Association in August 2010.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lewis, J.A., Mendenhall, R., Harwood, S.A. et al. Coping with Gendered Racial Microaggressions among Black Women College Students. J Afr Am St 17, 51–73 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-012-9219-0

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12111-012-9219-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation