Black women have been the backbone of social, political, and cultural movements in America from its inception. Despite systemic racism and gender inequality, they have persevered and profoundly impacted American society. Let’s take a look at the significant contributions Black women have etched across the vibrant tapestry of American history, spanning Civil Rights, culture, education, and healthcare – they’ve been trailblazers and change-makers in every sense.
Trailblazers and Change-Makers
1. Slavery and Resistance: During the era of slavery, Black women exhibited remarkable resilience. They not only survived brutal conditions but also found ways to resist their oppressors. Women like Harriet Tubman, who escaped from slavery, risked their lives to help hundreds of others find their freedom through the Underground Railroad.
2. Civil Rights Movement: Black women played pivotal roles in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and ’60s. Rosa Parks’ refusal to surrender her bus seat in Montgomery, Alabama, ignited the city’s bus boycott, a landmark event in the struggle for racial equality. Fannie Lou Hamer, Ella Baker, and Daisy Bates were other significant figures who fought against segregation and championed voting rights.
3. Cultural Contributions: In the face of adversity, Black women have made substantial contributions to America’s cultural landscape. From the literary genius of Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Zora Neale Hurston to the musical prowess of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, and Beyoncé, Black women have used art to chronicle, challenge, and celebrate their experiences.
4. Modern-Day Activism: Today, Black women continue to lead in social and political activism. Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi, founders of the Black Lives Matter movement, exemplify this resilience and leadership. Stacey Abrams’ work in combating voter suppression in Georgia demonstrates the continuing fight for racial and social justice.
5. Healthcare and Science: Black women have also broken barriers in fields traditionally dominated by white men. Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett was a key scientist behind the development of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and Dr. Mae Jemison was the first Black woman to travel to space.
Despite the pervasive hardships Black women face due to the dual burden of racial and gender discrimination, they continue to demonstrate extraordinary resilience. From shaping societal movements to breaking barriers in arts, science, and politics, the enduring spirit of Black women has left an indelible mark on America’s history and continues to influence its present and future.
With this history as our backdrop, today, we’re plunging into the deep waters of the DEI discourse, touching on a topic that is absolutely crucial, yet sadly often overlooked: the phenomenon of ‘weathering’ and the significant toll it takes on Black women.
Let’s start with what “weathering” means in this context. Coined by public health researcher Arline Geronimus, it’s a metaphor to describe the erosion of health experienced by Black women due to repeated exposure to societal and economic stressors, leading to premature biological aging. From dealing with everyday racism to the pressure of being strong caretakers, these stressors can indeed feel like a relentless storm.
Meet Dr. Arline Geronimus, a Researcher Ahead of Her Time
Dr. Geronimus asserted that continuous exposure to stress and hardship, such as financial struggles or experiences of racial discrimination, can cause long-term damage to our health. This happens because the body’s ‘fight-or-flight’ response, which is meant for short-term emergencies, is constantly triggered. This continual stress response diverts energy from other vital bodily functions, such as maintaining healthy pregnancies.
While this doesn’t pose much of a problem if the stress is temporary, those dealing with chronic threats may find this response persisting, leading to a state of constant high alert, like facing life-threatening experiences every day, all day.
Over time, this chronic stress response can accelerate the onset of health risks, leading to chronic conditions like hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes appearing at increasingly younger ages. It can also exacerbate mental health issues like depression and sleep disorders. Additionally, to cope with the relentless stress, individuals may resort to risky behaviors like overeating, excessive drinking, and smoking. In essence, prolonged hardship and stress create a ripple effect, causing numerous health issues and risky behavior.
How Weathering Effects Black Women in Particular
So, how does weathering manifest in the health of Black women? Studies have shown that weathering can lead to a variety of health disparities, from high rates of hypertension to increased maternal mortality. For example, Black women in America are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Weathering can stem from a variety of sociocultural stressors, such as discrimination, gender inequality, or social exclusion. Each of these can trigger a state of chronic physiological stress arousal in the body, leading to premature aging and susceptibility to diseases. While race can be a factor in the intensity and frequency of weathering due to systemic racism, weathering as a process is fundamentally a result of oppressive circumstances. The fight against weathering, then, is not just about addressing racial disparities—it’s about challenging and transforming the oppressive systems that create these chronic stressors.
Weathering isn’t a result of a single factor, but a combination of multiple, interrelated stressors that build up over time. The impact of each individual stressor can be significant, but when they come together, they form a relentless storm that significantly accelerates biological aging and results in substantial health disparities.
Let’s consider a few key factors:
1. Socioeconomic Stressors: These include elements like lower wages, job insecurity, and housing instability. When a Black woman is consistently worried about meeting her basic needs or maintaining her employment, chronic stress can lead to premature aging and a variety of health problems, including heart disease and mental health issues.
2. Racial Discrimination: The pervasive and persistent exposure to racial discrimination is a unique and significant stressor for Black women. It can manifest as daily microaggressions, institutional racism, or even the fear of police brutality. The psychological toll of living with this fear for themselves and often for their families, and tension is substantial and can contribute to weathering.
3. Healthcare Inequalities: Black women often face significant barriers to obtaining quality healthcare, including discrimination within the healthcare system itself. These barriers can lead to delayed or inadequate treatment for health problems, which can exacerbate the effects of weathering.
4. Gender Inequalities: Black women also experience stressors related to gender discrimination. This can come in the form of workplace sexism, higher rates of gender-based violence, and societal pressures related to beauty and femininity.
Each of these factors is impactful on its own, but together, they result in a continuous cycle of stress and recovery that places an enormous toll on the bodies of Black women. It’s like trying to recover from a marathon only to immediately start running again. Over time, this cycle can lead to premature aging and an increased risk of a variety of health problems.
The concept of weathering helps us understand why Black women, even in the absence of traditional risk factors, can still exhibit higher rates of health issues like hypertension or diabetes. It’s a call to action for us all to work towards dismantling the systemic inequities that contribute to these unnecessary and preventable health disparities.
Addressing the “Personal Responsibility” Argument
For those who argue that personal responsibility—maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and so forth—is the key to long-term health, consider this: Weathering isn’t solely contingent on individual choices or lifestyle factors.
Geronimus’s concept of weathering tells a different story, one where societal pressures and systemic inequalities take a heavy toll, regardless of personal habits or individual willpower.
For instance, consider that Black women with a college education still have higher rates (3 to 4 times higher) of infant mortality compared to white women with less than a high school education. This alarming statistic defies the conventional wisdom that better education equates to better health outcomes.
Likewise, even when living in affluent neighborhoods, Black individuals face health disparities. For example, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that in wealthy neighborhoods, Black men had higher blood pressure rates than white men. Similarly, research published in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found that Black women in affluent neighborhoods reported higher rates of chronic conditions such as heart disease and diabetes compared to their white counterparts.
These findings underscore Dr. Geronimus’s point that no one can entirely buy their way out of weathering. Even with a solid education, a good job, and regardless of the median housing price in your community, the stresses associated with systemic racism and discrimination persist.
The constant need for vigilance, managing social identity, and dealing with frustrations, pain, and exhaustion associated with racial inequity can result in a chronic stress response. The stark reality is these traumas are not eliminated by individual achievements or personal health habits.
Therefore, addressing the impact of weathering calls for a broader systemic change, a collective responsibility, rather than putting the onus solely on personal responsibility. It’s a call to rethink and reshape societal structures that value all individuals equally, reducing the burden of chronic stress and thus the effects of weathering.
Combatting Weathering: Strategies for Empowering Black Women and Enhancing Their Well-being
As we grapple with the realities of ‘weathering’—the toll that relentless stress and trauma take on Black women—it’s crucial to explore strategies that not only mitigate this phenomenon but also uplift and empower. From the creation of supportive networks to prioritizing self-care, access to quality healthcare, and advocacy through education, there’s a multifaceted approach to combatting weathering. Let’s consider these strategies, all aimed at fortifying Black women’s well-being, enhancing resilience, and ultimately reshaping the societal structures that contribute to their disproportionate stressors.
1. Building Supportive Networks:
Building a strong support network is one of the best strategies to combat weathering. Supportive relationships can provide a space for emotional release and collective problem-solving. Companies like Ethel’s Club are creating safe spaces for Black women and other marginalized communities to connect and support each other.
In addition to fostering emotional well-being, supportive networks can also empower Black women professionally and personally. For instance, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women offers programs that provide leadership development and gender equity advocacy for Black women. By providing a platform for Black women to empower each other, it helps to mitigate the mental toll that comes from facing adversity alone.
2. Prioritizing Self-Care:
Remember, it’s not selfish to take care of yourself. Activities that promote relaxation, such as yoga, meditation, or just a simple walk in nature, can help reduce the stress associated with weathering. Organizations like Black Girl In Om are doing a fantastic job by promoting wellness and self-care among Black women.
Programs like The Safe Place app, specifically designed for the Black community, can play a crucial role. The app provides mental health resources, self-care tips, and a platform to discuss mental health stigma within the community. By promoting mental wellness and relaxation techniques, the app can help to reduce stress levels, an essential step in countering the effects of weathering.
3. Access to Quality Healthcare:
Access to quality, respectful healthcare is crucial. The Loveland Foundation provides financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy. Advocacy and improved policies are also needed to combat racial disparities in healthcare.
Programs like the Black Women’s Health Imperative aim to improve healthcare access and quality for Black women. They provide health education, advocate for health policy changes, and foster environments for Black women to achieve optimal health. By ensuring that Black women have access to equitable and respectful healthcare, it is possible to directly counteract the health disparities exacerbated by weathering.
4. Advocacy and Education:
Education about the concept of weathering can lead to better understanding and support from allies. Books like ‘The Unapologetic Guide to Black Mental Health’ by Rheeda Walker, Ph.D., provide a deeper insight into mental health for Black communities.
Educational initiatives, such as the work done by the African American Policy Forum, can help to raise awareness about the intersectional challenges faced by Black women, including weathering. By educating the public and advocating for policy changes, these initiatives can work towards a society where Black women are no longer disproportionately subjected to stressors that contribute to weathering.
In each of these areas, it’s about creating systems that empower Black women, advocate for their well-being, and address the societal factors contributing to weathering. It’s not a quick fix, but with continued efforts in these directions, we can start to see change. It’s about seeing Black women’s health not as an isolated issue, but intertwined with societal structures, and working to improve these structures for the better.
Let’s consider the case of Tasha, a hardworking, mother of two.
Tasha, a Black woman in her early forties, lives in a major metropolitan city with her two teenage sons. Tasha has recently completed her Master’s Degree in Finance and she maintains a healthy lifestyle. Despite this, she battles hypertension, a condition that typically affects individuals much older than her. Tasha often finds herself feeling worn out and stressed, which is hardly surprising given her demanding schedule and the responsibilities she carries.
However, Tasha’s situation isn’t just the result of personal circumstances. It’s also shaped by larger societal forces. She is one of only two black employees in her large accounting firm. Because of the high cost of living in her area, she lives in a neighborhood with limited access to fresh, healthy food options—a ‘food desert. The nearest large grocery store is more than five miles away. This means she must use Uber or public transportation (and several hours of her day) to purchase food.
Public transportation is erratic, making it difficult for her to commute to her well-paying job in a different neighborhood. She also faces subtle racial bias at work, where she often feels overlooked and underappreciated. Because she is one of only a few minorities at work, she is hesitant to speak up for fear that it could impact opportunities for promotion, or worse. When Tasha is working, she prays that neither of her sons will be subjected to the disparate treatment faced by many black men and boys in America.
All these factors contribute to a chronic state of stress, leading to premature aging of the body and a decline in health. In Tasha’s case, this is evident through her struggle with hypertension.
As we wrap up today’s discussion, consider reflecting on Tasha’s story. Here are a few questions you might consider:
- Can you identify the stressors in Tasha’s life that might contribute to weathering?
- How might these stressors be addressed at both a personal and societal level?
- How can supportive networks, self-care, access to quality healthcare, and increased education on these societal forces play a role in Tasha’s life to counteract the effects of weathering?
- What are some policies or systemic changes that might need to occur to prevent situations like Tasha’s?
Tasha’s story isn’t unique. It’s shared by countless Black women who face a myriad of stressors that contribute to weathering. By asking these questions, we hope to spark critical thinking about the systems and societal structures that contribute to this phenomenon and how we can work towards creating a healthier, more equitable society.
Sources
America is failing its black mothers. Harvard Public Health Magazine. (2020, June 10). https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/magazine/magazine_article/america-is-failing-its-black-mothers/
