In Response to the “Soft Black Girl” Era

As far as widespread trends and social norms go over time, black women are often known for their uptight attitudes, masculine strength, and resilience in confrontation to unjust acts. However, it is pictured in recent years how women of color resort to finding inner peace in their mental and emotional state, realizing it is not required to live up to the societal burden that is the strong, independent black woman stereotype. What makes this trend stand out is that it allows and encourages women of color to be vulnerable in expressing their emotions and personal struggles without having to mask it through social norms and expectations. 

How did the origins of Black Women Influence this Movement?

Since the colonial ages in the 1800s, as slavery arose in merchanting and trade, African and Caribbean women were often portrayed by white supremacy as useful in housekeeping and nurturing white children. Unlike the common white or other racial portrayals of women, which were often displayed as docile or submissive to dominant male authorities or husbands, the black women stereotype is meant to hold the social expectation that black women are to serve the world on their shoulders and cater to the health of others rather than themselves. This stereotype has been held by the promotional marketing can design known as “Mammy”, a black female domestic cook wearing a red bandanna who seems to have a motherly feel and look. 

At the same time, there was another stereotype developed around the same period known as “Sapphire”, a sassy, robust, masculine-like black woman who “doesn’t need no man”. The Sapphire stereotype was driven by the 1951 all-black-cast CBS show “Andos n’ Andy” as well as violent systematic oppression of black people in general. 

What the Mammy and Sapphire types have in common is that African American women are “accepted” in white families and societies, building up what makes up the majority of America’s entertainment and media industry from the 1900s up until this point in time. 

Women of Color Do Show Their Strength, But At What Cost?

Though this trend tends to display a bold, self-sufficient outlook on the figure of a beautiful and determined black lady, there has been a vast amount of mental restraint that many women of color face on a daily basis through these kinds of microaggressions. According to research on multiple health organizations, studies show that 49% of black women are more prone to signs of depression, mental disorders like OCD, and self-harm in comparison to their white counterparts. Along with the “strong black woman” trope, it is merely expected of society for many women of color to meet those specific standards. Whereas women of color feel the pressure as well as the burden to meet up with that type of grind, which makes many question and debate this movement of living at ease. 

How Do Women of Color Seek Support?

Though the ideology of what it means to have a soft life may seem unattainable, there are a variety of resources to increase mental wellness from finding therapists to counselors and advisors, or simply just finding time for yourself at home or outdoors. Stopping to take a moment of relaxation and enjoyment for oneself applies to everyone regardless of race, ethnicity, or cultural background. Having a support network of people can help to maintain or increase one’s mental wellness.