Date of Award
4-2014
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
PHD - Doctor of Philosophy
Department
Expressive Therapies
First Advisor
Deforia Lane
Second Advisor
Nancy Sondag
Third Advisor
Angelique Simpson-Marcus
Abstract
African American women have suffered from negative images being thrust upon them, unrealistic expectations desired from them, and a lack of acknowledgement of their humanity—femininity often ignored or manipulated for sexual or reproductive control over them. The scars from these societal ills have fueled mindsets which assist in the fostering of continued unrealistic goals (Western ideals of beauty, infinite emotional resources), allowing circumstances for illness and disease to persist. The study attempts to explore, through mask making and dramatic play, how African American women see themselves and how this view may be useful in creating interventions to treat this population. Issues including the negative effects of stereotypes, the hurtfulness of colorism, mistrust of scientific research and helping professions (medical and psychological) as well as the desire to commune with other Black women were expressed and explored. The word “Black” as used by the writer is interchangeable with the term “African American” and will be capitalized. The same is true in regards to “White” when used to describe individuals of European descent. Both terms appear in lower case when part of a direct quotation.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Language
English
Number of Pages
158
Recommended Citation
Sylvester, Lillian Marie, "Half In Shadow She Speaks: An Expressive Therapies Exploration of The Self Image of African American Women" (2014). Expressive Therapies Dissertations. 62.
https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/expressive_dissertations/62
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The author owns the copyright to this work.
