Stark Realities: Examining African American Women with Mental Illness and Balancing Employment in Recovery

Abstract

The reality of living with mental illnesses is stark and complex. The intersection of gender and race introduces increased risk and less successful employment outcomes for African American women with mental illness. This study sought to explore the nuances of these issues through a qualitative study that combined the use of life story interviews and feminist narrative analysis. One central theme emerged: “Successful employment redefined.” This theme details the intricate nature of how these women redefined successful employment in their lives and how they achieved accommodations that synchronized with the complexity of how they manage both employment and recovery, as a “work-recovery cycle.” Suggestions for innovative employment strategies, including self-imposed accommodations and future investigations into the work-recovery cycle, are provided.