INITIAL DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL STRONG BLACK WOMAN SCALE by Brandi Chamberlin Liberty University A Dissertation Proposal Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Liberty University May, 2019 ii INITIAL DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL STRONG BLACK WOMAN SCALE By Brandi Chamberlin A Dissertation Proposal Presented in Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy Liberty University, Lynchburg, VA 2019 APPROVED BY: Fred Volk, PhD, Committee Chair April Crable, PhD, Committee Member Robyn Simmons, EdD, Committee Member iii COPYRIGHT © 2019 BRANDI CHAMBERLIN ALL RIGHTS RESERVED iv ABSTRACT The unique experiences of African American women are well documented through intersectionality research. Taking an intersectional framework, this study is designed to develop and initially validate a new scale, the Multidimensional Strong Black Woman Scale. The Strong Black Woman is characterized by strength, resilience, independence, stoicism, and caretaking. This schema is adopted by many African American women to combat negative racial stereotypes, born out of slavery and discrimination. The Strong Black Woman often neglects her own mental and physical health in order to care for others, and delays help-seeking behaviors. This has a negative impact on mental health. The strong Black woman schema has been measured over the years in several ways. However, most measures have neglected to address important cultural dimensions including faith, race, and femininity. The Multidimensional Strong Black Woman Scale integrates the characteristics of the Strong Black Woman and important cultural dimensions. Exploratory Factor Analysis resulted in the emergence of six factors: faith, stoicism, femininity, strength, independence, and caretaking. Consistent with research, faith and strength were significantly positively correlated with self-esteem, and negatively correlated with depression, anxiety, and stress. Stoicism was significantly negatively correlated with self-esteem, and significantly positively correlated with depression and stress. Results indicate no significant relationship between the factors of femininity, independence, or caretaking and the mental health measures. Consistent with intersectionality research, African American women and Caucasian women in the sample scored significantly different on four of the six factors of the Multidimensional Strong Black Woman Scale. Key words: Strong Black Woman, Intersectionality, Femininity, Superwoman v DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this project to the strong women in my life. To my daughters: Jordan, for teaching me what it means to be competent, dependable, and responsible – she is the only 14 year old I know who would wake up at 5:00a just to stay on track with the Thurmanator; Katelyn – for epitomizing independence and teaching me to never take things at face value, and to always question and analyze; Ashlyn – for showing what it means to be resilient, I will never forget when I really wanted to give up on this and on the house and you said “You can’t quit, Chamberlins don’t quit”; and to Austyn – for showing me what it means to be vulnerable and kind and that maybe, sometimes, it is okay to ask for help and it is okay to cry. Finally, I want to dedicate this to my mom – my original superwoman. I am so thankful for your leadership and the example you set on how to overcome adversity, but in the end to focus on the things that matter. Strong women, raise strong women, who raise strong women – thank you for setting the stage. For this and so many other reasons, this topic of what it means to be a strong woman interested me. What was unique about this however, is how it spoke to me as a person who is passionate about social justice, cultural humility, and the current political climate where racism is of utmost concern. This topic fused two topics about which I am passionately interested, it was a “God” thing. vi ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First, I would like to acknowledge Dr. Volk, and my readers Dr. April Crable, and Dr. Robyn Simmons. I am forever grateful to all of them for their guidance and support over the last several months and navigating what could be a very tenuous relationship, given our respective positions. I am particularly thankful to Dr. Volk for the way this project came about. He did not know me well at the time, but I think now having gotten to know me, he would agree that this topic was the perfect one, at the perfect time. Also a big thank you to my husband for his support, especially over the last couple years, when things have been relatively hectic. To Dr. Mary Deacon, I appreciate your support and guidance over the past couple of years and all of the CACREP knowledge you have imparted. vii CONTENTS ABSTRACT .............................................................................................................................. iv DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................ v ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ....................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ............................................................................................................................. xi List of Abbreviations ................................................................................................................xii CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................... 1 Background of the Problem ......................................................................................................... 2 Intersectionality ....................................................................................................................... 2 Strong Black Woman .............................................................................................................. 4 Measures ................................................................................................................................. 5 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................... 7 Research Questions ..................................................................................................................... 8 Assumptions and Limitations ...................................................................................................... 8 Definition of Terms..................................................................................................................... 9 Significance of the Study .......................................................................................................... 11 Organization of the Remaining Chapters ................................................................................... 11 Chapter Summary ..................................................................................................................... 12 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE .............................................................. 13 Intersectionality ........................................................................................................................ 13 viii Racism .................................................................................................................................. 15 Femininity ............................................................................................................................. 22 Strong Black Woman ................................................................................................................ 24 Historical Roots of Strong Black Woman .............................................................................. 25 Attributes of Strong Black Woman ........................................................................................ 28 Outcomes of SBW ................................................................................................................. 30 SBW and Health ....................................................................................................................... 33 Network Stress ...................................................................................................................... 33 Personal Stress ...................................................................................................................... 34 Measures Related to Gender Roles and SBW ............................................................................ 41 Gender Roles Measures ......................................................................................................... 42 Other Cross-Cultural Measures .............................................................................................. 43 Strong Black Woman Measures ............................................................................................. 44 Chapter Summary ..................................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS .............................................................................................. 48 Research Design ....................................................................................................................... 48 Selection of Participants ...........................................................................................................