High Risk, Low Knowledge--Marginalized individuals are at higher risk for disease because disproportionately they are in the low socioeconomic status. Factors such as poor living conditions, poor diets, lack of recreational activities, overworked, stressed, single parent households. In comparison to White women, African American women who have never married in 2010 was 25% and for White women it was below 10%. Oftentimes they are also faced with stressful living environments and insufficient access to health information and/or care.
Despite their high risk status, their overall health is secondary to what is deemed more pressing matters and concerns. Additionally, many do not trust mainstream health messages. Actually, during the process of this research, I found few positive representations of African American Women in health. The absence of their visibility speaks to how they are understudied and under-represented in data. Consequently, many, and in this case African American women, are far more sick than they realize by the time they seek treatment.
Factors which position African American women at a higher risk include:
Factors which position African American women at a higher risk include: lower income, health conditions, stress from multiple commitments, access to healthcare, and absence of support, restricted resources, lack of knowledge and minority status.
African American women have been stereotyped as being strong in adverse situations, and consequently their needs have continued to be overlooked.
There is also issue of the period of time it takes for African American to receive a proper diagnosis and the ramifications due to this delay.
Despite their high risk status, their overall health is secondary to what is deemed more pressing matters and concerns. Additionally, many do not trust mainstream health messages. Actually, during the process of this research, I found few positive representations of African American Women in health. The absence of their visibility speaks to how they are understudied and under-represented in data. Consequently, many, and in this case African American women, are far more sick than they realize by the time they seek treatment.
Factors which position African American women at a higher risk include:
Factors which position African American women at a higher risk include: lower income, health conditions, stress from multiple commitments, access to healthcare, and absence of support, restricted resources, lack of knowledge and minority status.
African American women have been stereotyped as being strong in adverse situations, and consequently their needs have continued to be overlooked.
There is also issue of the period of time it takes for African American to receive a proper diagnosis and the ramifications due to this delay.
Other issues that plague African-American women that may contribute to mental illness.
|
Social Identity- is the expected characteristics imposed on a particular person. This identity is reflected and embodied in the person they have been expressed upon. In this case, the negative effects of social identity is manifested and represented through a low percentage of black women seeking and receiving treatment.
African American Women have been stereotyped as being strong in adverse situations, and consequently their needs have continued to be overlooked. Stigma--Reasons why African-American Women do not seek treatment:
For additional insight read and visit: High Rates of Depression Among African-American Women, Low Rates of Treatment http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nia-hamm/depression-african-american-women_b_5836320.html
|
For support and additional resources please visit for locations and available care: National Alliance on Mental Illness