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11 - Black Women’s Romantic and Intimate Relationships

from Part III - Core Themes in Black Women’s Stress and Distress

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 June 2023

Donna Baptiste  and
Adia Gooden
Donna Baptiste
Affiliation:
Northwestern University, Illinois
Adia Gooden
Affiliation:
Unconditionally Worthy, Co.
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Summary

Black women’s romantic and intimate relationships are explored in both heterosexual and queer unions. We discuss the strengths of Black women’s romantic unions and examine conditions that create stress and distress for Black women in marriage, cohabitation, and sexual and dating relationships. We discuss cultural, structural, and historical dynamics that drive Black women’s relationship stereotypes and challenges. We also address conditions that create unusual relational risks for Black women, including sexually transmitted infections and intimate partner violence.

Keywords

Black womenromanticintimaterelationships
Type
Chapter
Information
Promoting Black Women's Mental Health
What Practitioners Should Know and Do
 , pp. 263 - 287
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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Media Resources

Black Marriage Day. (n.d.). http://www.blackmarriageday.com/Google Scholar
Raphael, R. (2019, March 7). What women want: Love, marriage and dating. Ebony. https://www.ebony.com/what-women-want-love-marriage-and-dating/Google Scholar

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