Psychology of Black Women
Spring, 2013
Black Women's Sexuality * Review Gail Wyatt's research on heterosexual's Black women's sexual experience (notes from slides). * According to the article "Married to the Holy Spirit" and class notes what are some potential consequences for attempting to maintain a faith-based abstinence life style? * What are some of the characteristics of different gender presentations of Black lesbians (e.g., "femmes", "studs"). * Identify the ways that Black lesbians deal with sexual prejudice in their lives (article: "It ain't all as bad as it may seem"). * Define "sexual concurrency." How does it influence male-female relationships and rates of HIV.
Black motherhood * According to Chaney, how do Black women define "womanhood?" * How do parents, peers, healthcare workers, and the media influence Black women's sexual practices and attitudes toward delaying early pregnancy as they pursue their education (Dilworth article). * How has Black women's reproduction been controlled throughout history (Flavin article and notes). * Identify some specific socialization messages that Black women give to their daughters (Thomas article).
Community Violence/Homicide * Review the statists on community violence and homicide. What are some specific types of homicide? * What community characteristics increase the probability of community violence? * Discuss at least 3 different factors (they could be historical, social, or economic) that make Black women more vulnerable to violence or make it more difficult for them to recover. * Explain Black mothers' cognitive process and ways of finding meaning after the loss of a child to homicide. * What are some ways that Black women coping with community violence in housing projects.
Sexual Assault/Intimate Partner Violence * According to a Black feminist perspective, what factors do researchers