Studies show that racialized sexual harassment, a form of gendered racism, contributes to increased psychological distress among Black women. To cope, some Black women may adhere to the Superwoman Schema (i.e., an obligation to display strength, resistance to vulnerability, intense motivation to succeed despite limited resources, and an obligation to help others), which may be associated with decreased willingness to seek help. In this study, we investigated the association between racialized sexual harassment, Superwoman Schema, and its dimensions, and help-seeking intention. Participants included 155 Black female college students who completed an online survey. We found a negative association between racialized sexual harassment and help-seeking intention. We also found that racialized sexual harassment was positively associated with Superwoman Schema, which in turn correlated with help-seeking intention, suggesting that Superwoman Schema may help explain the association between racialized sexual harassment and help-seeking intention. Further analyses with Superwoman Schema dimensions revealed that both an obligation to suppress emotions and resistance to vulnerability explained the nature of these associations. Findings indicate the complex nature of the Superwoman Schema as a response to gendered racialized oppression.
Telesford et al. (Sat,) studied this question.