We Cannot Labor Our Way Out of Oppression: An Exploratory Study of Wealth Through Black Women’s Lived Experience

Author

Tiffany N. Younger, The Graduate Center, City University of New YorkFollow

Date of Degree

6-2024

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D.

Program

Social Welfare

Advisor

Selena T. Rodgers

Advisor

Barbra Teater

Committee Members

Bryan Warde

Subject Categories

Economic History | Economic Theory | Political Economy | Political Theory | Social Justice | Social Work

Keywords

Wealth, Black Women, Political Economy, Black Feminist Frameworks, Power and Oppression

Abstract

An exploratory qualitative phenomenological study was used to explore Black women’s experiences with wealth accumulation. The aims of this study were to better understand how Black women navigate financial obligations as heads of households and the impact of the wealth gap on their lives. The research on the wealth gap, informed by U.S. values and culture, has assumed the accumulation of wealth is the baseline/default goal or aspiration for all individuals. More specifically the subaims of this study sought to examine the extent to which the structural, interpersonal, disciplinary, and hegemony impacts Black women’s wealth status. Furthermore, this study sought to examine how Black women view wealth and the importance of other forms of capital outside of financial capital play a role in their life. The final subaim explored Black women’s perception on the impact of current inequities from the wealth gap on their financial obligations, with a more specific aim of identifying how inequality impacts the way Black women perceive and address their financial obligations as head of household. The results of this study revealed Black women view wealth outside of the traditional U.S. framework of assets over debt. Black women’s livelihoods are unique and robust, which forces them to labor in many ways. Finally, through exploring the second subaim, findings showed Black women celebrate who they are despite their circumstances but understand the social “gift and burden” of Black womanhood. This study sought to contribute significantly to the empirical knowledge on the racial wealth gap for Black households and provide essential information for the social work field in effort to address economic inequality that is the foundation for most of the social welfare issues in the United States.

Recommended Citation

Younger, Tiffany N., "We Cannot Labor Our Way Out of Oppression: An Exploratory Study of Wealth Through Black Women’s Lived Experience" (2024). CUNY Academic Works.
https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/5782