Jun 25

Why It Is Time to Reimagine the Strong Black Woman

Is the image of the 'strong Black woman' hurting us more than it is helping us? Learn why it may be time to reimagine who the 'strong Black woman' is and redefine what 'wellness' really is.

I am so thankful I had an opportunity to present to the Black Women of Chester County in Action’s “An Evolving Journey – We’re Still Here Embracing Where We’ve Been, Where We Are Going and Where We Want to Be” on May 4, 2024.

 

One of the reasons I am so passionate about this topic is when I learned that Dr. Antoinette Candia-Bailey affectionately known as Bonnie had taken her own life on January 8, 2024. Dr. Bailey served as the vice president of student affairs at Lincoln University of Missouri, a historically Black university.

Taken from her obituary “In  2016, she presented her dissertation, "My Sister, Myself: The Identification of Sociocultural Factors That Affect the Advancement of African American Women into Senior-Level Administrative Positions." Bonnie, an engaged and dynamic speaker, presented "My Sister and Myself" on several college campuses, national conferences, churches, and organizations.”


How could a woman who seemed to be so full of positivity and so strong reach a point where she felt like she had no other choice than to die by suicide? The answers may be found in the myth of the “strong black woman”. This idea of a strong black woman, can stifle being one’s authentic genuine self, one’s true self, one how God has designed you. The idea of the strong Black Woman is killing us, literally and metaphorically.

The idea of the strong Black Woman is killing us.

As we look at reimagining the strong Black woman let’s define a few terms.

Reimagine – Reinterpret, rethink, to redefine/develop a new idea about the way something should be. 

Strong – Having the power to move heavy weights or perform other physical demanding tasks. Have the ability to withstand great force or pressure.

Resilience – can cope with stress on one had; places us at heighted risk for physical and psychological distress.

 

In order to reimagine the strong Black women we must look at the various factors that make up one’s overall wellness including those that are emotional, financial, social, spiritual, occupational , physical, intellectual and environmental in nature. We must also define wellness.

 

“Wellness refers to a holistic approach in which mind, body, and spirit are integrated. It is a way of life oriented toward optimal health and well-being in which body, mind, and spirit are integrated in a purposeful manner with a goal of living life more fully (Myers, Sweeney, & Witmer, 2000). Wellness is more than the absence of disease, a state defined as “health,” and incorporates a concern for optimal functioning.” 

 

Data shows that 1 in 5 women in any given year will have a diagnosable mental disorder a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder . In adults, 1 in 25 experience serious mental illness; defined as a mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. Think about your 5 closest female friends, one of you is most likely dealing with a mental health challenge such as depression anxiety or even thoughts of suicide.

 

Neglecting our overall well-being and self-care lead to physical and Mental health problems. In addition, lack of exercise, poor nutrition, inadequate sleep, and chronic stress can increase the risk of developing conditions such as cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes, weakened immune system, and other physical ailments.


When women suffer, there is a cascading effect.

There are other factors that keep us from achieving wellness including:

Trauma - Occurs when a person is overwhelmed by events or circumstances and responds with intense fear, horror, and helplessness. Extreme stress overwhelms the person’s capacity to cope. There is a direct correlation between trauma and physical health conditions such as diabetes, COPD, heart disease, cancer, and high blood pressure.

Stress -Is an emotional/bodily reaction to physical, psychological and/or emotional demands. It is an applied force or system of forces that tend to strain or deform the body. When we encounter stress it is a survival mechanism used to respond to perceived dangers and it is a  powerful internal communication to raise awareness.

 

When you put trauma and stress together they can result in a mental health condition known as Post-Traumatic stress disorder . This disorder also known as PTSD is triggered by a terrifying event, exposure to actual or threatened death, serious injury, or sexual violence in one (or more) of the following ways:

  1. Directly experiencing the traumatic event(s). [indirectly]
  2. Witnessing, in person, the event(s) as it occurred to others.
  3. Learning that the traumatic event(s) occurred to a close family member or close friend. In cases of actual or threatened death of a family member or friend, the event(s) must have been violent or accidental.
  4. Experiencing repeated or extreme exposure to aversive details of the traumatic event(s) (e.g., first responders collecting human remains, police officers repeatedly exposed to details of child abuse [counselors working w/clients who are abused/traumatized]

 


Trauma plus Stress


When women face mental health issues, it not only affects them but can cascade to others, impacting families, communities, and workplaces. Therefore, women’s mental health matters for a number of reasons.

·      There is no health without mental health.

·      Mental disorders/illnesses are wide-spread and under-treated.

·      There is a significant co-morbidity between mental illness and substance use disorders (SUD).

·      Risk for SUD is elevated among those with mental illness.

·      Mental health affects other health outcomes.

·      Women are generally gatekeepers for family’s health.

·      Women are generally the caregivers for ill family members.

·      MH strongly affects the developing child’s health.


God's desire for us

Let us never forget what God says about his creation.    
  
  

  • Psalm 139: 13-14: For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
  • Eph 2:10 – For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

 

I hope I have demonstrated why we need to reimagine the Strong Black Woman. If you would like to learn more about the steps you can take to reimagine your life as a strong Black woman I encourage you to register for my free course on my new client learning portal. It not only explains the need but also gives you actionable steps reaffirmed by God’s word to help you to be healthy and whole.

 

Be Blessed,

 

Dr. Taunya Tinsley

 

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