Abstract:
Black women in the United States of America have unique experiences to which no other group can relate. The intersectionality of their race and gender often leaves them in a vulnerable and lonely space that not many others enter. The racial and gendered microaggressions they face may follow them into their jobs, schools, and personal lives. This misogynoir culture negatively effects Black women daily as they navigate ways to respond. Communication Accommodation Theory is a theory in the field of Communication that explores several ways people can choose to carry themselves during social interactions. This study is an autoethnography exploring one Black woman’s experiences with microaggressions, her responses, and how those responses have impacted her mental health and wellness while experiencing racial battle fatigue.
Keywords: Black women, intersectionality, microaggressions, misogynoir, communication accommodation theory, racial battle fatigue.