Embodying Strength: The Origin, Representations, and Socialization of the Strong Black Woman Ideal and its Effect on Black Women’s Mental Health

Stereotyping Black women as servant, "the mammy" is a well-known racial and gender stereotype and, if internalized, can decrease mental and physical health. Recreated via the Strong Black Woman (SBW) and Superwoman (SW) ideologies, such ideals have the potential to be empowering, while at the same time marginalizing. The purpose of this article is to discuss how Black women embody strength through the SBW and SW ideals, the mental health implications of each, and recommendations for therapeutically unpacking these forms of 'strong' womanhood using a feminist and empowerment approach.