Gendered racism
Gendered racism is a concept that highlights the intersection of sexism and racism, particularly affecting minority-group women. Coined by social psychologist Philomena Essed, the term underscores how cultural definitions of gender, influenced by race and ethnicity, create unique challenges for women of color, often referred to as "double minorities." Historically, these women have been subjected to harmful stereotypes, such as the "Aunt Jemima" figure, which reflect broader exploitative structures between racial and gender groups. The implications of gendered racism are profound, leading to restricted access to education, limited job opportunities, and lower wages, perpetuating cycles of poverty among minority families. Additionally, this framework can contribute to significant health disparities, as evidenced by studies showing that women of color, particularly Black women, experience higher levels of chronic stress and poorer health outcomes compared to their peers. Health care disparities, exemplified by the higher maternal mortality rates for Black and Indigenous women, further demonstrate the urgent need to address the effects of gendered racism in society. Understanding gendered racism is crucial for recognizing and combating the systemic inequalities faced by women of color.
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Gendered racism
Social psychologist Philomena Essed coined the term “gendered racism” to refer to the way that sexism and racism interact to subordinate minority-group women. Scholars sometimes refer to minority women as a “double minority” because they are affected by cultural definitions of gender that vary by race or ethnicity. Historically, White people have defined African American women, for example, as “Aunt Jemima,” the overweight, subservient maid or housekeeper; or as a sexual object, to be used by men and then discarded; or as “beasts of burden.” These negative images, like ones for other minority women, can be traced to the historical exploitative relationship not only between White people and minority groups but also between men and women. Gendered racism has implications for minority women by restricting their access to education, limiting their occupational options, restricting their income to minimum or below-minimum wages, and making it difficult for minority families to escape poverty. Consequently, minority women lag behind White women and men of all racial and ethnic groups in terms of political, economic, cultural, and social positions.
Gendered racism can also have dire health effects for women of color. Studies have shown that women of color experience different effects from chronic stress. A 2006 study demonstrated that Black women had the highest chronic stress load compared to Black men, White men, and White women. The results of these high stress loads put Black women at greater risk for poor health outcomes. Similarly in health care, gendered racism has created differences in pregnancy stress and outcomes for women of color compared to their White counterparts. The higher maternal mortality rates for Black and Indigenous women in the United States has been brought to national attention as a public health crisis, and the American Medical Association (AMA) identified one of the major contributing factors as racism and unconscious bias in the medical field. Gendered racism has far-reaching effects and adverse health effects for women.
Bibliography
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