Dance movement therapy for Black womxn: A content analysis

Abstract

We conducted a 20-year (2002–2022) content analysis of Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) focused on Black womxn identities. The analysis sought to examine the presence of Black womxn in study samples; reported sexual and gender diversity; spiritual/religious identities; methodology; study location; DMT session structure (e.g., communal, individual); and outcome variables. We applied a directed content analysis approach, where our existing theory regarding the deficit of DMT research with Black womxn samples focused our research question and aided our predictions concerning potential variables of interest. Ninety-six articles met the inclusion criteria. Approximately 7.3 % of studies included Black womxn in the sample. Only one study (1.0 %) reported data on sexual minorities, and two studies (2.1 %) included data on gender expansive folx. Few studies (13.5 %) included information on spiritual and/or religious identities. Qualitative articles (35.4 %) were the second most published methodology, with quantitative articles being a comparable first (44.8 %). Most studies (70.8 %) took place outside of the US and utilized a communal session structure (78.1 %). Findings demonstrate that DMT research excludes Black womxn’s intersectional identities. Implications for future research and practice are discussed.