"She's Black More Than She's a Woman" A Mixed Method Analysis of the Construction of Gender and Psychological Outcomes among Black Female College Students.

Abstract

Employing qualitative and quantitative methods, data were collected from 85 Black female college students to examine whether Black women endorsed sexism in their constructions of gender or, alternatively, resisted sexist ideas. Black women’s endorsement of, or resistance against, sexism was also examined in relation to both positive and negative psychological health outcomes. Nonsexist gender constructions that resist female devaluation/subordination and embrace strong gender identity were expected to benefit psychological health, whereas sexist gender constructions that reinforce female devaluation/subordination and minimize gender identity were expected to detract from psychological health. Investigating the psychological health outcomes of how Black women construct gender, especially in ways that resist sexism, was hoped to implicate possible pathways of resilience against gender oppression. Findings from qualitative interviews revealed that Black women both resisted and reproduced ideas that devalue/subordinate women, indicating moderate endorsement of sexism. Despite the research focus on gender and sexism, race repeatedly emerged as an overriding factor in Black women’s self-definition and their perspectives on oppression. Qualitative findings are discussed in relation to contemporary and historical imperatives to accentuate race as well as competitive hostility among Black women. Quantitative survey findings revealed significant relationships between Black women’s constructions of gender and psychological outcomes that partially confirmed study hypotheses. Sexist gender constructions were found to both benefit and undermine psychological health. Similarly, gender identity was related to both positive and negative psychological outcomes. Potential explanations for the psychological costs and benefits of sexist gender constructions and gender identity are discussed, with a suggested caveat regarding interpretation of study findings as supportive of sexist ideology; findings should not be interpreted to downplay the negative social impact of gender prejudice. Rather, both qualitative and quantitative results demonstrate the pervasiveness and tolerability of contemporary sexism, which have macrolevel consequences for maintaining women’s subordination despite some benefits for psychological functioning within the status quo gender hierarchy.