From Margin to Center:
A thematic analysis exploring the lived experiences of Black women who stutter
This study was conducted to expand understanding of stuttering beyond prevalence and treatment outcomes by amplifying the lived experiences of Black women who stutter—an understudied population whose intersecting identities (race and gender) uniquely shape how they experience, navigate, and make meaning of their stuttering.
What Did the Blank Center Do?
- Recruited prospective participants through a peer-to-peer online support group for Black women who stutter.
- Conducted two 90-minute semi-structured focus groups with 10 Black women aged 26–51 years.
- Analyzed transcribed conversations using reflexive thematic analysis within an intersectional theoretical framework to understand how race, gender, and stuttering intersect in daily lived experience.
What Did They Find?
- Participants described intersecting experiences of racism, sexism, and ableism that shaped how they understand their stuttering and interact socially.
- Rich, qualitative themes emerged illustrating how these overlapping identities contributed to unique navigational strategies, stressors, and resilience processes.
- The data highlighted the importance of self-care, community support, and affirming spaces in sustaining psychosocial well-being.
Why This Matters Clinically
- Clinicians should recognize that race and gender intersect with stuttering in ways that shape clients’ experiences of discrimination, identity, and access to support services.
- Therapy approaches that fail to consider the full lived experience of marginalized groups may overlook critical psychosocial needs and resilience factors.
- Providing culturally responsive and identity-affirming care—including validating clients’ personal narratives, community connections, and coping strategies—can improve therapeutic rapport and outcomes.
Key Takeaways
Black women who stutter experience stuttering through the combined impact of race, gender, and communication differences; culturally informed clinical practice that honors these lived realities supports better holistic care.
Citation
Richardson, E., Byrd, C., & Young, M. (2025). From margin to center: A thematic analysis exploring the lived experiences of Black women who stutter. Journal of Communication Disorders., 118, p1-15, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcomdis.2025.106586
Link to the article page on the journal: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41355162/
