Description
Book SynopsisExplores the restrictive myth of the Strong Black Woman through interviews, revealing the emotional and physical toll this "performance" can have
Trade Review“Behind the Mask of the Strong Black Woman makes an important contribution to the literature. No other work systematically studies the ways black women internalize and resist strong black woman discourse. Beauboeuf-Lafontant convincingly argues that investment in the strong black woman myth injures black women and strengthens the racist divisions between women.”—Maxine Craig, author of Ain’t I a Beauty Queen?: Black Women, Beauty, and the Politics of Race
Table of ContentsIntroduction: A Half-Told Tale of Black Womanhood
1. More Than “the Historical, the Monolithic Me”: Deconstructing Strong Black Womanhood
2. Living the Lies: Embodying “Good” Womanhood
3. Keeping up Appearances: The Performance of Strength
4. Lies Make Us Sick: Embodied Distress Among Strong Black Women
5. Coming to Voice: Transcending Strength
Epilogue: Mules No More, Just “Levelly Human”: A Societal Challenge
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Table of Participants
