An Exploration of Black Women’s Gendered Racial Identity Using a Multidimensional and Intersectional Approach

Abstract

The current study explored the potential for an empirically supported taxonomy of gendered racial identity among Black women sampled in the United States. Drawing from Black racial identity theory (Sellers et al. 1998a), gendered racial identity was defined as the significance and qualitative meaning women attribute to their membership within Black and woman social identity groups. To assess this construct, Black women (n = 240; M _age = 35.83, SD = 11.88, range = 19–79) completed measures of racial and gender centrality as well as an opened-ended question assessing the meaning assigned to one's intersected identity. Four profiles of gendered racial identity emerged through a cluster analysis of racial and gender centrality, which were further explicated through women's qualitative descriptions of identity. The profiles included Intersectional Engaged, Race Progressive, Intersectional Aware, and Gender Expressive. We explain each profile in detail and conclude by discussing the implications of study findings in terms of theory development, future research, and practice related to Black women.

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