Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date

2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Department

Education

Committee Chair

Amanda Rockinson-Szapkiw

Committee Member

Andrew Tawfik

Committee Member

Ladrica Menson-Furr

Committee Member

Taryn Givan

Abstract

The Strong Black Woman schema has served the Black woman well in modern history, as it has given formidable warnings to all others that this demographic cannot be easily defeated. What would make this intersection, female and Black, needing of this title? Possibly as Malcolm X stated in one of his most famous speeches, “The most disrespected person in America is the Black woman. The most unprotected person in America is the Black woman. The most neglected person in America is the Black woman” (X, 1962). Even with these obstacles, Black women have gone on record to lead in entrepreneurship in America as they are seeking more freedom, opportunity, fulfillment and stability as well as avoiding discrimination barriers in the workplace (Thompson, 2022). How can they attain such a lead with so much against them? Strength training has been a tactic taught in early childhood for many Black women, however, being strong grows tiresome and the identity that comes along with it has become unappealing. The soft life era has emerged and offered a new option and identity shift for Black women. This paper will explore how Black women grew into identities focusing on strength and how they are making room for other options with the emergence of the soft life phenomenon. Keywords: Strong Black Woman, soft life, identity

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to ProQuest.

Notes

Open Access

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