An Examination of Strength Socialization in Black Mother-Daughter Relationships

The embodiment of the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema presents challenges for Black women, including negative mental health outcomes like psychological distress and depression. Yet, few researchers have examined the process by which Black women take on this archetype of Black womanhood. In the current study, we explored the nature of the socialization messages Black mothers give young Black women about strong Black womanhood (referred to as strength socialization), and the downstream effects of this socialization process on their wellbeing. A total of 15 Black undergraduate women completed semi-structured interviews pertaining to their perceptions of the messages they received from their mothers about strong Black womanhood, and the potential impacts of these messages on their emotional functioning. Results of thematic analysis revealed that the young Black women perceived receiving messages consistent with the SBW schema. Moreover, the extent to which they adhered to messages supporting the SBW schema or not had implications for their emotional functioning. Implications of study findings are provided for researchers, mental health professionals, and parents.