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The Psycho-Social Impact of Colorism Among African American Women: Crossing the Divide

Fultz, Lauren A.

Abstract Details

2014, Doctor of Psychology (PsyD), Wright State University, School of Professional Psychology.
This study was designed to examine how skin tone discrimination affects African American women. The phenomenon of colorism is not exclusive to African American women, but the manifestations on this group are diverse, and the effects are unique. Previous research has shown that the experience of colorism is pervasive within the Black community and that most African American women have been, either culturally or personally, affected by intra-racial discrimination. This body of work used a focus group to investigate the experiences of African American women who were categorized according to their self ascribed skin tone group. It specifically explored skin tone bias as a three-tiered variable in terms of intra-racial dynamics, including light, brown, and dark skinned women. The experiences of these women were coded into broader themes that depict the experiences of African American women as a function of their skin tone. The findings suggest that women of different hues have unique experiences based on their skin tone, and that these experiences influence how they feel about themselves, and how they interact with others. This research should inform the clinical work of future clinicians engaging with this population. It will hopefully stimulate critical discussions within academic forums that would promote further research and better understanding of this group's dynamics.
James Dobbins, Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Chair)
Kathleen Malloy, Ph.D., ABPP (Committee Member)
Celeste Waller, Psy.D. (Committee Member)
72 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Fultz, L. A. (2014). The Psycho-Social Impact of Colorism Among African American Women: Crossing the Divide [Doctoral dissertation, Wright State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wsupsych1375225026

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Fultz, Lauren. The Psycho-Social Impact of Colorism Among African American Women: Crossing the Divide. 2014. Wright State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wsupsych1375225026.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Fultz, Lauren. "The Psycho-Social Impact of Colorism Among African American Women: Crossing the Divide." Doctoral dissertation, Wright State University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=wsupsych1375225026

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)