EXPLORING BLACK WOMEN'S MOTIVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES WITH HIGH-END SHOPPING
Over the years, many stereotypical negative archetypes have been created for and assigned to Black women, including Mammy, Matriarch, Sapphire, and the Strong Black Woman, and these images and labels continue to affect many Black women today. To counteract the adverse images associated with Black women, they may have developed unhealthy coping strategies such as participating in high-end shopping . The focus in this study was to explore Black women’s experiences with and motivation to engage in high- end shopping. Participants (N = 33) were Black women, over the age of 18 years, from various education backgrounds stemming from high school diplomas to graduate degrees. Participants were divided into two groups: one group completed a virtual interview (n = 10) and the second group completed an online survey (n = 23). Results indicated these Black women experienced excitement and happiness before, during, and after making high-end purchases. Quality, cost, and affordability were among the key motivators for these Black women to participate in high-end shopping. Image and status were rarely mentioned throughout the participants’ responses, which indicates Black women may not participate in high-end shopping as a means to combat historically negative images.
Black Women High-end Shopping Experiences Motivations, Clinical Psychology, Other Psychology, Social Psychology
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