A sociocultural examination of body image among Black women

• Published in: Body image 2019-12, Vol.31, p.280-287
• Main Authors: Watson, Laurel B., Lewis, Jioni A., Moody, Anahvia Taiyib
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: African American women; African Americans - ethnology; African Americans - psychology; Black women; Body image; Body Image - psychology; Female; Humans; Intersectionality; Objectification theory; United States - ethnology; Women - psychology
• ISSN: 1740-1445; 1873-6807
• DOI: 10.1016/j.bodyim.2019.03.008

•We reviewed Thomas Cash’s and his colleagues’ contributions to the examination of Black women’s body image concerns.•Black women’s body image concerns are presented through two guiding theories: intersectionality and objectification theories.•We describe strengths and protective factors against Black women’s body image disturbances.•Future research directions are discussed. In this integrative review, we highlight the legacy and contributions of Thomas Cash as it relates to Black women’s body image concerns. In addition, utilizing intersectionality and objectification theories, we contend that Black women’s body image disturbances must be placed within a sociocultural context based on the intersections of gender and racial oppression. Together, these systems of oppression create unique body image disturbances for Black women. We highlight literature that focuses on the specific ways in which Black women may encounter body image concerns—ways that differ from the experiences of White women to whom Black women have historically been compared. We conclude this review by highlighting factors that may foster body satisfaction among Black women, with a focus on strengths and protective factors.