"No Complaining, No Crying": A Qualitative Study of the Strong Black Woman Schema in the Breast Cancer Context

Black women have the highest mortality from breast cancer compared with other racial/ethnic groups. Black women with breast cancer also evidence compromised quality of life in some domains. Culturally relevant aspects of their experience are understudied.

The goal of this qualitative study was to examine the relevance of the Strong Black Woman schema in the cancer context.

Three Gatherings (i.e., culturally curated focus groups) were conducted with Black women who had been diagnosed with breast cancer and recruited from cancer-related listservs and events. A five-person team conducted reflexive thematic analysis of Gathering transcripts.

The 37 participants ranged in age (30 to 94 years) and in diagnosis duration (2 months to 29 years). Reflexive thematic analysis yielded six themes that characterized the women's experience: historical legacy of the Strong Black Woman, navigating intersecting Strong Black Woman identities, everyday challenges encountered on the battlefield by Strong Black Women, Strong Black Woman in action during the breast cancer journey, the complexities of seeking and accepting support, and the liberated Strong Black Woman. The schema's negative consequences included the oncologic team and others expecting the participants to be strong and not to need support. Expectations to suppress emotions and continue caring for others to the neglect of the self also were evident. Positive consequences included engaging in self-advocacy in the oncologic context and redefining strength to include expressing emotions and accepting help.

The Strong Black Woman schema is highly relevant in the breast cancer context and could be addressed in culturally centered interventions.