▁which , ▁she ▁cont ends , ▁is ▁the ▁emphas is ▁on ▁independence , ▁and ▁how ▁this ▁self - re liance ▁prevents ▁some ▁women ▁from ▁seeking ▁aid ▁when ▁they ▁need ▁it ▁for ▁fear ▁of ▁appearing ▁we aker ▁or ▁sub serv ient . ▁▁▁▁ ▁Through out ▁the ▁book , ▁Harris - Per ry ▁supports ▁and ▁recon c iles ▁her ▁not ions ▁on ▁African ▁American ▁Fem ale ▁identity ▁through ▁representations ▁of ▁women ▁in ▁film , ▁media , ▁focus ▁groups ▁and ▁the ▁perpet u ation ▁of ▁s tere ot ypes ▁in ▁the ▁African ▁American ▁community . ▁She ▁reflect s ▁on ▁her ▁own ▁experiences ▁of ▁citizens hip ▁by ▁integr ating ▁the ▁experiences ▁of ▁other ▁black ▁women ▁and ▁women ▁in ▁different ▁social - polit ical ▁circles . ▁She ▁arg ues ▁that ▁without ▁em an cip ation ▁of ▁Black ▁women ▁from ▁these ▁harm ful ▁s tere ot ypes , ▁true ▁and ▁full ▁citizens hip ▁as ▁it ▁rel ates ▁to ▁political ▁recognition ▁will ▁remain ▁with h eld . ▁ ▁Mel issa ▁Harris - Per ry ▁proceed s ▁to ▁draw ▁par alle ls ▁between ▁the ▁sh aming ▁of ▁the ▁Black ▁women ▁and ▁sla very . ▁She ▁arg ues ▁that ▁through ▁binding ▁the ▁body ▁with ▁typical ▁and ▁limit ing ▁ide ologies , ▁women ▁are ▁forced ▁to ▁choose ▁between ▁their ▁sex ▁or ▁race . ▁She ▁presents ▁this ▁as ▁in hib iting ▁one ' s ▁freedom ▁and ▁ability ▁to ▁escape ▁the ▁heter on orm ative ▁white ▁hierarchy ▁that ▁sust ains ▁ra cial ▁division , ▁and ▁limits ▁the ▁importance ▁of ▁the ▁black ▁femin ist ▁voice ▁in