Racism And Negative Stereotypes In The Theth Of Black Women

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1. Charisse Jones and Kumea Shorter-Gooden convey the fact that Black women in the United States still experience racism and sexism today. African American women have stereotypes and negative connotations attached to them causing them to experience oppression. In response to this, they undergo the “shifting” phenomenon where they alter themselves to fit into what society expects and wants from them. Black women undergo behavioral changes and emotional ups and downs in the face of bias. They feel stress trying to compromise their true selves. “Shifting” gives an insight of what it is like to jeopardize one’s true self in order to survive in society. 2. Black women have to live coping with the myth that Black women are somehow inferior to other …show more content…

They restrain their success at work because they feel guilty about their achievements at home. Black women experience subordination at work when they struggle to be hired. They also work harder than others to prove the stereotypes wrong. Yet, they get paid less for similar work and they are sometimes disregarded for promotions. 3. Racism, sexism and negative stereotypes come at a cost for African American women. They suffer psychological and physical damage from the oppression that they face. Society has placed specific Eurocentric beauty standards for women which cause Black women to feel shame and want to change their weight, hair texture, body shape and skin color. “In a society where the standard of beauty remains …show more content…

Break down the coping mechanisms Black women utilize to deal with discrimination, such as “wailing it off” and fighting back. The authors provide answers and offer examples of how women can reconnect with their true selves by seeking professional counseling, starting their own business, joining support groups, starting their own business, or taking other productive steps. Black women’s willpower in the face of adversity, aptitude to emphasize on what is positive, and their resiliency are all assets that can contribute to the well-being of them. The focus on family, close relationships, community and church are very important to Black women’s strength. These connections have served as sources of empowerment that support the self-esteem of Black women. The power of social support that they represent has been very important as a line of defense in often-hostile external environments. These social systems have helped to mitigate depression and the stress of women who are juggling careers with family obligations and facing racism and

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