Intersectional Lives, Intersectional Experiences: Exploring the Impact of Stigma in the Lives of

352 Pages·2017·1.69 MB·English

UC Santa Cruz
UC Santa Cruz Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Title
Intersectional Lives, Intersectional Experiences: Exploring the Impact of Stigma in the Lives
of African American Women
Permalink
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/34t2g95n
Author
Brown, Eve Lorane
Publication Date
2017

Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation
eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library
University of California
UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA,
SANTA CRUZ

INTERSECTIONAL LIVES, INTERSECTIONAL EXPERIENCES:
EXPLORING THE IMPACT OF STIGMA IN THE LIVES OF AFRICAN
AMERICAN WOMEN
A Dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY
in
PSYCHOLOGY
By
Eve Lorane Brown
DECEMBER 2017

The Dissertation of Eve Lorane Brown is approved by :

___________________________________________ _
Dr. Craig Haney, Chair

_____________________________________________
Dr. Carolyn Martin Shaw

________________________________________________ _
Dr. Eileen Zurbriggen

___________________________________________________________ _
Dr. Tyrus Miller, Vice Provost and Dean of Graduate Student s
Copyright © by Eve Lorane Brown

2017
Table of Contents

Abstract. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .…………………………………………………… v

Acknowledgement …………………………………………………………….. viii

Dedication . . . . . .……………………………………………………………… ix

Chapter 1
Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . …………………………………………………… 1
Stigma…………………………………………………………………………… 4
Lynching and Violence as a result of Stigma…………………………………… 4
Double Consciousness……………………………………………..…………… 13
Trans -Ebonics…………..………………………………………………………. 17
Definition of Terms…………………………………………………………….. 19

Chapter 2
Exploring Race, Gender, and Class as Co -Creators of Stigma….……………… 23
Racism , Slavery, and Jim Crow…………………………….………………….. 23
Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome………………………………………………... 24
Black Codes……………..………..…………………………………………….. 27
Social Dominance Theory……………………………………………………… 28
Dominance of Black Bodies and Sexuality………… ………………………….. 28
The Harlem Renaissance……………………………………………………….. 30
Eugenics………………………………………………………………………… 32
Black Racial Identity……………………………………………………………. 35
Black Feminist Thought………………………………………………………… 39
Intersectionality…………………………………………… …………………… 42
Transgender Studies…………………………………………………………… 47
Class and Social Hierarchies……………………………………………………. 55
Beauty, Passing, and Sex work………………………………………………….. 55
Hierarchy of Needs……………………………………………………………… 58
Stigma……………………………………...… ………………………………… 62

Chapter 3
Methodology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ……………………..……………………. 64
Research Questions…………………………………..…………………………. 76
Participants…………………………………..………………………………….. 76
Procedures…………………………………………..…………………………… 79
Instruments, Measures, Analyses……………………………………..…………. 81
iii
Limitations…………………………………,,…………………………………… 94

Chapter 4
Still They Rise: Participants’ Narratives. . ……………………………………… 96
Rose……………………………………………………………………………… 97
Lily………………………………………………………………………………. 112
Camellia…………………………………………………………………………. 131
Ivy………………………………………………………………………………. 154
Magnolia………………………………………………………………………… 172
Violet……………………………………………………………………………. 190
Lotus…………………………………………………………………………….. 210
Willow…………………………………………………………………………... 233
Daisy…………………………………………………………………………… 2 44
Jasmine…………………………………………………………………………… 264

Chapter 5
The Evidence of Things Unseen: Summary of Study Findings and Discussion . . 288
Discussion and Analysis………………………………………..……………… 293

Chapter 6
Summary and Conclusion. . . . . . . . . . . …………………………………………. 311
Implications………………………………..……………………………………… 314

Appendix
Appendix A: Informed Consent………… . . . …………………………………… 316
Appendix B: Demographic Questions………………………………. .………...... 318
Appendix C:
Questionnaire…………………………………………………………………….. 323

References ………………………………………………………….…………….. 328

iv
Abstract

Intersectional Lives, Intersectional Experiences: Exploring the Impact of Stigma in
the Lives of African American Women

Eve Lorane Brown

This intersectional, qualitative life history based narrative study explores the
impact of stigma on the lives 10 African Ameriacn women ages 21-55. All 10 women
in the study also identify as transgender, transsexual, and transwomen. All of the
women also primarily identified as women. Thus, one of the goals of this feminist
investigation is to examine, position, and normalize thees transwomen as women in
contemporary research literature and in society in total. A culturally competent
questionnaire was employed to guide the sem-istructured, life-history based
interviews. Theoretical frameworks of Intersectionality (Combahee River Clloective,
1982; Crenshaw, 1993), Black Feminist Thought (Collins, 1991), Cross’ model of
Black racial identity (Cross, 1971/1991), and the Hierarchy of Needs (Maslow,1954)
were employed to gauge potential correlations between the impact of social stigma
and feminist and female/woman group identities, African American race and racial
group identities, and how the intersection of multiple oppressed identities interacts
with their ability to obtain and sustain healthy, sel-factualized, lives.
Participant responses were focused coded and grouped into 6 thematic
categories (a) personal identity; (b) gender identity, transgender/transsexual or gender
spectrum identity, female/woman identity, feminist understandings and/or identity,
gender group connectedness; (c) racial group identity and Black community
v
connectedness; (d) identity disclosure ,Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT)
community connectedness, and political associations; (e )s elf-esteem, self-
actualization, and self-concept; (f) relationships and love; and (g) stigma,
discrimination, racism, sex work violence, trauma, suicide ideation, and isolation. A
content analysis (Fetterman, 1998) was utilized alongside theoretical examinations .
Findings include: (a) African American transwomen experienec an inordinate
amount of social stigma that negatively impacts their mental and physical health,
limits their ability to access the hierarchy of needs, and impedes their ability to
maintain healthy lives; (b) African American transwomen are often ostraceizd from
African American communities and kinship networks; they experiences most acts of
violence from other African Americans, yet Black racial identity gave 8 out of 10 of
the women a sense of empowerment and esteem; however, the relationship between
Black racial identity and self-actualization was still low; (c) African American
transwomen overwhelmingly express a desire to be seen, respected as, and protected
as, women.

Keywords: African American Women; African American Transgender Women ;
Stigma; Intersectionality; Black Feminist Theory; Black Racial Identity; Hierarchy o f
Needs; Social Discrimination; Gender Identity; Narrative; Embodied Narrative; Life
History; Violence; Trauma; Social Psychology; African American Studies; Women’ s
Studies; Gender Studies.

vi
Acknowledgements

“Just like moons and like suns, with the certainty of tides ,
just like hopes springing high. Still, I rise!”—Maya Angelou (1978)

This dissertation (much like my doctoral studies) was completed in almo st
total isolation. It was 9 very difficult years of near solitary confinement that broke me
into millions of pieces and crucified my spirit; however, like the Phoenix, I have risen
from the ashes. And, it was entirely worth every ounce of blood, sweat, antde ars! Let
this dissertation and my imminent success be a testament to the strength and
resiliency of Black womanhood, fortitude, and faith in a magnificent Christian God,
who made all of the possible! And faith in my powerful African Goddesses: the
opulent mother Goddess Yemojah, and the fierce warrior Goddess Oya! Modupe! I
am eternally grateful to my kind, generous, and patient dissertation committee :
Dr. Craig Haney, Dr. Carolyn Martin Shaw, and Dr. Eileen Zurbriggen. THANK
YOU! Carolyn, you have saved me and helped me in many ways, and I am forever
grateful! THANK YOU!
Special and sincere THANK YOU also goes to Allison Land, our Psychology
Department Director and former Graduate Advisor who was one of my few constant
sources of support during this process.
vi
i
I must also extend a very special THANK YOU to my mentor and “Atlanta
University colleague”, Dr. Beverly Guy-Sheftall; and to my sisterfriend and
colleague, Dr. Hollie L. Jones.
Lastly, a special thank you goes to the excellent students I’ve tuaght over the
past 11 years (from Medgar Evers College and UCSC) who reminded daily me of
why I wanted to be a Professor.

vi
ii
Dedication
This dissertation is dedicated to my late parents, Mr. and Mrs. Brown, who made
financial sacrifices to send me to Catholic school, so that I could get to “this place”,
and whose passionate and undying love for each other inspires me still.

This dissertation is also dedicated to
Terrilyn Fox, Krema Sherree, Tyra Allure,
Octavia St. Laurent, Tracy Africa & Tommie Ross, who all inspired me; &
Marsha P. Johnson, Sylvia Rivera & Miss Majors; who inspired a movement; & also
to the women who participated in this study, and the multitude
of African American transwomen who dare to be their true selves daily and
unapologetically!

ix