Disposing of the narrative : How Black women make meaning of gendered racial socialization messages in Finland

Abstract

In this Master's thesis, I critically engage with the concept of gendered racial socialization and inquire how socialization transmissions influence Black women's experiences and identities in Finland. By accumulating knowledge from five semi-structured interviews, this introspection aims to explore the leverage of gendered racial socialization messages and understand how Black women in Finland make meaning of their experiences. Centering Black women's authentic experience enables this thesis to illuminate how socialization messages informed by socially constructed ideas are circulated in a manner that objectifies Black women and influences their sense of self. The theoretical frameworks of critical race theory and intersectionality guide this research, supplementarily to phenomenological and narrative qualitative research approaches. The theoretical frameworks and research approaches converge to emphasize how the interview participants make meaning from their lived experiences and connect their experiences to societal issues. Notions such as white normativity, microaggressions, internalized racism, and belonging to Finnish society are integral to this research. Furthermore, the interviews establish the significance of cultivating radical self-love and defying the interpersonal consequences of gendered racial socialization messages. The general purpose of this research is to accentuate the authentic experiences of Black women in Finland and present discernment on how inequalities are sustained through gendered racial socialization messages.