Transitioning the Caregiving Role for the Next Generation: An African-Centered Womanist Perspective

Abstract

Caregiving traditions of African American women are deeply rooted in African origins throughout the Diaspora. Although these traditions are highly valued, there is minimal information on how these caregiving roles are passed from generation to generation, and less is known about women's enduring resilience and the ways in which caregivers alleviate challenging stressors. Drawing from an African-centered womanist perspective, the authors explore historical and cultural traditions of caregiving, concluding with a model aimed at assisting women to engage men in the caregiving role, to ask for and receive help, and to adopt healthier caregiving roles to transfer to their daughters and sons.