Soily healing: Black women, resilience, and houseplants

Building on the theoretical frameworks of scholars such as Melissa Harris-Perry, Melanie Harris, Jane Bennett, and Layli Maparyan, this dissertation explores the transformative potential of reciprocal relationships between Black women and houseplants. Through visual and textual analysis of public Instagram posts, this research examines three key themes: (1) houseplants act as agentic teachers, guiding their caretakers toward deeper self-care and self-awareness; (2) Black women cultivate reciprocal caregiving practices through tending to houseplants; and (3) the relationship between Black women and houseplants challenges societal expectations of how Black women care for themselves and others. This dissertation expands the understanding of houseplants’ roles in Black women’s lives and offers principles for fostering a more rooted connection with oneself and the natural world.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Multicultural Women's and Gender Studies

Grantor

Texas Woman's University

Year dc:date.issued

2025

Author dc:creator

• Slaughter, Michelle

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Keating, AnaLouise

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Beins, Agatha
• Ishii-Bear, Sara

• Black women
• Houseplants
• Resilience
• Ecowomanism
• Instagram

Language dc:language.iso

English

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/11274/17116

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:twu-ir.tdl.org:11274/17116