“He was socialized to believe that it’s normal”: Gendered racism in interracial relationships between Black women and white men

Black women and white men occupy opposing positions in intersecting racial and gender hierarchies, influencing their partner dynamics. The present study centers gendered racism experienced by Black women in interracial relationships with white men and examines how partner support can mitigate or uphold patterns of dominance. Eighty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2021 with Black women previously or currently in a relationship with a white man. Of these interviews, 45 percent (N = 37) state having partners who mishandled the gendered racism interviewees experienced. Yet 50 percent (N = 41) of interviewees feel supported by their white male partner(s) and explain what support looks like in response to experiencing or discussing gendered racism. Black women who experience their partner discounting gendered racism and/or avoiding defending them believe this is detrimental to their relationship. Conversely, Black women who believe their partners stand up to racism and educate themselves feel supported. We draw on a Black feminist framework to analyze Black women’s experiences within a society that upholds white supremacy and masculinity. Black women’s explanations of partner support allow us to broadly conceptualize how minoritized partners receive interracial support and navigate their positions within race x gender social hierarchies.