Black Women Run: A Life Story Study

• In Event: 035 - Section on Sex and Gender Roundtables (one-hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 05. Embodiment

Abstract

This study is intended to fill a gap in our knowledge about the lived experiences of middle-class African American women who run for exercise or leisure. In particular, I aim to explore the everyday navigation of the tensions between stereotypes about African American women and their bodies, disproportionately poor health, and participation in a predominantly white sport. Life story interviews are conducted with three women who run, focusing on the topics of physical activity, body image, and health. I co-create knowledge with the participants by infusing autoethnographic data while giving voice to these women in order to better see the processes of becoming a runner. College is a formative time for all of the women, as it was the first time most have been immersed in a black community, surrounded themselves by a predominantly black peer group, and gained a deeper understanding and appreciation for their racial identities. Self-love during this time leads to self-care, as all of the women begin to place more of an emphasis on health and exercise in their daily routines as their body image and self-esteem improve over the life course.

Author

• Alicia Smith, Case Western Reserve University