"I almost broke”: Examining the mental health impact of gendered racism among black millennial women
Presentation Type
Abstract
Faculty Advisor
Jason Williams
Access Type
Event
Start Date
25-4-2025 12:00 PM
End Date
25-4-2025 1:00 PM
Description
Black feminist scholars have long emphasized the unique marginalization resulting from the intersecting injustices of sexism and racism ( Collins, 2000; Crenshaw, 1986; hooks, 2015; Lewis et al., 2017; Lewis, 2023; Settles, 2006). Essed (1991) coined the term "gendered racism" to describe how these forms of oppression converge and disproportionately impact minority women, especially Black women. Research demonstrates that gendered racism contributes to adverse mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation ( Jones et al., 2021; TaeHyuk Keum & Wong, 2022; Vance et al., 2023; Williams et al., 2025). However, emerging research has suggested that the experience of gendered racism’s impact on mental health and functioning may vary among Black Americans based on socio-political locations, generational cohorts, life stages, and contexts (Settles,2006; Williams et al.,2025). This study, part of a broader qualitative research project, explores the impact of gendered racism experienced in adulthood on the mental health of five Black millennial women in the United States. Preliminary findings reveal that participants often experience anxiety through persistent rumination on distressing events and heightened hypervigilance regarding negative stereotypes and perceptions of Black women. The initial findings provide valuable insights for the fields of family science and counseling by contributing to a nuanced understanding of mental health outcomes among Black millennial women facing gendered racism and supporting the development of healing-centered approaches.
"I almost broke”: Examining the mental health impact of gendered racism among black millennial women
Black feminist scholars have long emphasized the unique marginalization resulting from the intersecting injustices of sexism and racism ( Collins, 2000; Crenshaw, 1986; hooks, 2015; Lewis et al., 2017; Lewis, 2023; Settles, 2006). Essed (1991) coined the term "gendered racism" to describe how these forms of oppression converge and disproportionately impact minority women, especially Black women. Research demonstrates that gendered racism contributes to adverse mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation ( Jones et al., 2021; TaeHyuk Keum & Wong, 2022; Vance et al., 2023; Williams et al., 2025). However, emerging research has suggested that the experience of gendered racism’s impact on mental health and functioning may vary among Black Americans based on socio-political locations, generational cohorts, life stages, and contexts (Settles,2006; Williams et al.,2025). This study, part of a broader qualitative research project, explores the impact of gendered racism experienced in adulthood on the mental health of five Black millennial women in the United States. Preliminary findings reveal that participants often experience anxiety through persistent rumination on distressing events and heightened hypervigilance regarding negative stereotypes and perceptions of Black women. The initial findings provide valuable insights for the fields of family science and counseling by contributing to a nuanced understanding of mental health outcomes among Black millennial women facing gendered racism and supporting the development of healing-centered approaches.
Comments
Poster presentation at the 2025 Student Research Symposium.