The Burden of Strength: Exploring the Impact of the Strong Black Woman Schema on Aging Black Women’s Health
By Brionna Colson-Fearon, MA
We are delighted to present the following submission from our rolling call for blog posts. The present entry, “The Burden of Strength: Exploring the Impact of the Strong Black Woman Schema on Aging Black Women’s Health” was submitted by Brionna Colson-Fearon, a doctoral student in Applied Developmental Psychology at Fordham University.
My grandmother was a pillar of strength and resilience for our family. She was our source of stability and support, especially during difficult times. For as long as I knew her, she was active—waking up early, getting dressed, making breakfast, and settling in to watch her game shows each day. So when she didn’t get out of bed one morning, we knew something was wrong. Although she had been battling depression and physical pain for some time, she kept it to herself. It was not until she was in so much pain that she physically could not move that we realized she was sick.
I was 20 years old at the time, and I would spend my junior year of college — her final year—caring for her. As an eldest child, wife, mother, and grandmother, she had long embraced the expectation to prioritize others over herself. But during that year, I came to understand the cost of that selflessness. It had lived quietly in her body and mind, and over time, it made her ill.
Endorsement of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema is common among aging Black women like my grandmother. The SBW schema describes a cultural expectation for Black women to exhibit strength, independence, and resilience, often at the expense of their own well-being (Castelin & White, 2022). Young Black girls are socialized to become strong Black women from an early age. When taught about how to navigate and cope with racism and sexism, strength is emphasized by mothers and grandmothers as a crucial tool for survival and resistance (Jones et al., 2020). Additionally, as girls become increasingly aware of racial and cultural issues, and begin to experience more discrimination, identification with the SBW schema deepens (Anyiwo et al., 2023).
Emerging during slavery, the SBW schema provided a guide for Black women to follow in order to cope with — and resist —experiences of intersectional oppression (Abrams et al., 2014; Harris-Lacewell, 2001). Past research finds that endorsement of this schema does offer some benefits for Black women. For example, exhibiting strength to cope with stress and experiences of discrimination boosts Black women’s self-esteem and sense of self-efficacy, making them feel more equipped to handle life's stressors (Davis & Afifi, 2019; Woods-Giscombe, 2010).
However, several studies find that the risks of pursuing strength outweigh its benefits. Endorsement of the SBW construct is a risk factor for negative physical and mental health outcomes, due to the overwhelming pressure to be resilient for families and communities (Abrams et al., 2014; Woods-Giscombe, 2010). “Black Superwomen” are likely to experience premature health deterioration, as well as depression and anxiety (Donovan & West, 2015; Watson & Hunter, 2015). Strong Black Women also have a tendency to use binge-eating as a way to cope with psychological distress, which has consequences for both mental and physical health (Harrington et al., 2010). Despite this, Black women like my grandmother avoid burdening others with their physical and emotional needs, resulting in reluctance to seek support or show vulnerability (Jones et al., 2020). Societal and internal pressures to endure hardship without appearing weak results in a suppression of emotional expression among Black women (Woods-Giscombe, 2020).
This ‘self-silencing’ aspect of the SBW schema can be particularly harmful for aging Black women, as they navigate the physical, mental, and social changes that occur as one ages. Because of this, seeking out regular medical care is important for aging Black women, as it aids in managing disease risk factors (e.g., high blood pressure) and enables early detection of illnesses (Liss et al., 2021). Aging is also associated with life transitions such as retirement, relocation, and the deaths of family and friends, which can contribute to feelings of social isolation and loneliness (WHO, 2024). Therefore, prioritizing mental wellness and seeking care is essential to prevent and manage psychological distress as one ages (NIH National Institute on Aging, 2022).
My grandmother played a vital role in my family. Like many other older Black women, she provided her loved ones with guidance and wisdom, while preserving our family’s cultural traditions. However, the overwhelming pressure to remain strong for us was detrimental to her own health. Breaking free from the SBW schema cannot be easily done, particularly because it is a common tool for navigating racial and gender oppression. However, moving away from this cultural expectation is essential for the health of Black women. Reminding Black mothers and grandmothers that it is okay to express vulnerability and accept help is not only important, but necessary.
There are numerous foundations dedicated to ensuring that Black women of all ages have access to culturally competent mental health care. If you or someone you know feels overwhelmed by the pressure of the SBW schema, here are some organizations that can help:
While being a strong Black woman is admirable, sometimes even the strongest need support too.
References
Abrams, J. A., Maxwell, M., Pope, M., & Belgrave, F. Z. (2014). Carrying the world with the grace of a lady and the grit of a warrior: Deepening our understanding of the “strong Black woman” schema. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 38(4), 503–518. https://doi.org/10.1177/0361684314541418.
Anyiwo, N., Stanton, A. G., Avery, L. R., Bernard, D. L., Abrams, J. A., & Golden, A. (2022). Becoming strong: Sociocultural experiences, mental health, & Black girls' strong Black woman schema endorsement. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 32(1), 89-98. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12707
Castelin, S., & White, G. (2022). “I’m a strong independent Black woman”: The strong Black woman schema and mental health in college-aged Black women. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 46(2), 196-208.
Davis, S. M., & Afifi, T. D. (2019). The strong Black woman collective theory: Determining the prosocial functions of strength regulation in groups of Black women friends. Journal of Communication, 69, 1–25. https://doi.org/10.1093/joc/jqy065.
Donovan, R. A., & West, L. M. (2015). Stress and mental health: Moderating role of the strong Black woman stereotype. Journal of Black Psychology, 41, 384–396. https://doi.org/10.1177/0095798414543014.
Harrington, E. F., Crowther, J. H., & Shipherd, J. C. (2010). Trauma, binge eating, and the “strong Black woman”. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 78, 469–479. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019174.
Harris-Lacewell, M. (2001). No place to rest: African American political attitudes and the myth of Black women’s strength. Women and Politics, 23, 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1080/1554477x.2001.9970965.
Jones, M. K., Harris, K. J., & Reynolds, A. A. (2020). In their own words: The meaning of the strong Black woman schema among Black US college women. Sex Roles, 84(5), 347-359.
Liss, D. T., Uchida, T., Wilkes, C. L., Radakrishnan, A., & Linder, J. A. (2021). General health checks in adult primary care: a review. JAMA, 325(22), 2294-2306.
NIH National Institute on Aging. (2022, February 23). What do we know about healthy aging? https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/healthy-aging/what-do-we-know-about-healthy-aging
Peterson, J. W. (1990). Age of wisdom: Elderly Black women in family and church. The Cultural Context of Aging J. Sokolowsky (ed.) Bergin and Garvey: New York, 213-228.
Watson, N. N., & Hunter, C. D. (2015). Anxiety and depression among African American women: The costs of strength and negative attitudes toward psychological help-seeking. Cultural Diversity and Ethnic Minority Psychology, 21, 604–612. https://doi.org/10.1037/cdp0000015.
Woods-Giscombé, C. L. (2010). Superwoman schema: African American women’s views on stress, strength, and health. Qualitative Health Research, 20, 668–683. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049732310361892.
Woods-Giscombe, C., Robinson, M. N., Carthon, D., Devane-Johnson, S., & Corbie-Smith, G. (2020). Superwoman schema, stigma, spirituality, and culturally sensitive providers: Factors influencing African American women’s use of mental health services. Journal of Best Practices in Health Professions Diversity: Research, Education and Policy, 9(1), 1124.
World Health Organization. (2024, October 1). Ageing and Health. https://www.who.int/news- room/fact-sheets/detail/ageing-and-health
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