Black Women's Experiences of Racialized Shame

Objectives: Black women may be particularly vulnerable to negative shame experiences, shaped by racism and sexism. Yet, the breadth of research that examines shame experiences from Black women's perspective is limited. This study sought to describe the sociocultural context in which Black women experience shame in America. Method: Forty Black women (M-age = 41 years) across the United States participated in a narrative study. A thematic analysis focused on understanding shame cues in participant narratives. Results: One major theme of racialized shame experience was revealed. Sociocultural contexts of these experiences were identified including Black women's state of invisibility; experiences in the workplace and academia; treatment related to skin color, hair, and body; and romantic relationship expectations. Conclusions: These findings warrant further attention to the consequence of Black women's shame experiences. Implications for addressing shame and well-being for Black women are discussed.