Interviews with 12 African American women who were long-term
residents of a public housing complex and were engaged in tenant
management activities found that obstacles in the complex reinforced
their resilience and that their roles as mothers and their adherence to
spiritual beliefs gave their lives meaning. Although tenant manage
ment has not yet brought about collective empowerment, it has pro
vided a foundation for personal development. The implications of these
findings for social work practice and policy are discussed.
References
1.
Anthony, E.J. (1987). Risk, vulnerability, and resilience: An overview In E. J. Anthony & B. J. Cohler (Eds.), The invulnerable child (pp. 3-48). New York: Guilford .
2.
Chestang, L. (1976). Environmental influences on social functioning: The black experience In P.S.J. Cafferty & L. Chestang (Eds.), The diverse society: Implications for social policy (pp. 59-74). Washington, DC: National Association of Social Workers .
3.
Dubrow, N.F., & Garbarino, J. (1989). Living in the war zone: Mothers and young children in a public housing developmentPublic Welfare , 68, 3-19.
4.
Felsman, J.K., & Vaillant, G.E. (1987). Resilient children as adults: A 40-year study In E. J. Anthony & B. J. Cohler (Eds.), The invulnerable child (pp. 289-314). New York: Guilford.
5.
Fiene, J.I. (1991). The construction of self by rural low-status Appalachian womenAffilia, 6,45-60
6.
. Foster, M., & Perry, L.R. (1982). Self-valuation among blacksSocial Work, 27, 60-67.
7.
Garmezy, N., & Nuechterlein, K.H. (1972). Invulnerable children: The fact and fiction of competence and disadvantage. American Journal of Ortho-psychiatry, 42, 328-329.
8.
Glaser, B.G., & Strauss, A.L. (1967). The discovery of grounded theory: Strategies for qualitative researchNew York: Aldine.
9.
Greene, B.A. (1990). What has gone before: The legacy of racism and sexism in the lives of black mothers and daughtersWomen and Therapy, 9, 207-230.
10.
Halpern, R. (1990). Fragile families, fragile solutions: An essay reviewSocial Service Review, 64, 637-648.
11.
Holmes, G.E. (1992). Social work research and the empowerment paradigm In D. Saleebey (Ed.), Strengths perspective in social work practice (pp. 158-168). White Plains, NY: Longman.
12.
Kotlowitz, A. (1991). There are no children here: The story of two boys growing up in the other AmericaNew York: Doubleday.
13.
Lerner, B. (1972). Therapy in the ghetto: Political impotence and personal integrationBaltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.
14.
Lindblad-Goldberg, M. (1987). The assessment of social networks in black, low-income single-parent families In J. Hansen & M. Lindblad-Goldberg (Eds.), Clinical issues in single-parent households (pp. 39-46). Rockville, MD: Aspen.
15.
McLanahan, S.S., Garfinkel, I., & Ooms, T. (1987). Female-headed families and economic policy: Expanding the clinician's focus In J. Hansen & M. Lindblad-Goldberg (Eds.), Clinical issues in single-parent households (pp. 1-17). Rockville, MD: Aspen.
16.
Miller, D.C. (1987). Helping the strong: An exploration of the needs of families headed by womenWashington, DC: National Association of Social Workers.
17.
Moffat, S. (1993, February 13). Tenants learn how to own public housingLos Angeles Times, p. B12.
18.
Noble, K.D. (1990)The female hero: A quest for healing and wholenessWomen and Therapy, 9(4), 3-18.
19.
O'Neal, G.S. (1982). Mental health in ethnic minority communities: An overview In S. O. Miller, G. S. O'Neal, & C. A. Scott (Eds.), Primary prevention approaches to the development of mental health services for ethnic minorities: A challenge to social work education and practice (pp. 77-93). New York: Council on Social Work Education.
20.
Patton, M.Q. (1990). Qualitative evaluation methodsNewbury Park, CA: Sage.
21.
Pearson, C. (1991). Awakening the heroes within: Twelve archetypes to help us find ourselves and transform our worldNew York: Harper Collins.
22.
Rappaport, J. (1990). Research methods and the empowerment social agenda In P. Tolan, C. Keys, F. Chertok, & L. Jason (Eds.), Researching community psychology (pp. 51-63). Washington, DC : American Psychological Association.
23.
Reinharz, S. (1979). On becoming a social scientistSan Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
24.
Saleebey, D. (1992). Strengths perspective in social work practiceWhite Plains, NY: Longman.
25.
Schlinkmann, M., Hernon, R.Todd, C., & Dine, R. (1991, May 4). Bush salutes Cochran effortsSt. Louis Post Dispatch, Sec. A, pp. 1-2
26.
. Schorr, L.B. (1988). Within our reach: Breaking the cycle of disadvantageNew York: Doubleday.
27.
Strong black families: Research findings (1986). Urban Research Review, 1 , 1-5.
28.
Trattner, W.I. (1989). From poor law to welfare state: A history of social welfare in America (4th ed.). New York: Free Press.
29.
U.S. Bureau of the Census. (1993). Statistical abstract of the United States: 1993 (113th ed.). Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office.
30.
Yllö, K. (1988). Political and methodological debates In K. Yllö & M. Bograd (Eds.), Feminist perspectives on wife abuse (pp. 28-50). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
