Conveying strength in emerging adulthood and during a pandemic

• Published in: Women's studies international forum Vol. 99; p. 102794
• Main Authors: Wade, Jeannette, Alexander, Ramine, Gibbs, Jasmine, Giscombé, Cheryl Woods, Jackson, Katia, McElroy, Asha, Ferguson, JaVae
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Covid-19; Emerging adulthood; Gender studies; Strong Black Woman; Covid-19; Strong Black Woman; Emerging adulthood; Gender studies
• ISSN: 0277-5395; 1879-243X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wsif.2023.102794

Despite the positive connotation to “strength”, the Strong Black Woman ideology leaves Black women vulnerable to physical and mental health concerns that stem from the accumulating effects of social and self-induced pressures to consistently present as indestructible. This paper, framed by the Superwoman Schema, aims to examine how the Strong Black woman is conveyed in emerging adulthood and how the events of 2020 impacted young Black women's ideals around gender. Results come from focus group data collected prior to and during the lock downs resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. The respondents reported: Feminine/Beauty, Mental Health, Caregiving, Overcoming Transition, Doing Strength, and Body Positivity, were the overarching traits and expectations of them as strong Black emerging adults. Interestingly, social isolation appears to have given Black women time to reflect on the negative implications of Strength as they no longer felt obligated to convey constant resilience. •Strength is attributed to beauty, mental health, caregiving, overcoming transitions, doing strength, and body positivity.•The pandemic of 2020 brought social psychological delays, freedom from the strength mandate, and heightened gendered racism.•It is vital for clinicians to support Black women as they navigate a new, more vulnerable gender identity.