Space is Never Neutral: Black Womxn’s Narratives of Space, Identity, and Meanings of Safety

In the United States, Black womxn’s well-being is profoundly shaped by spatial, structural, and cultural forces that often render them invisible or disposable. Rooted in structural racism and coloniality, these forces produce overlapping forms of violence that compound and exacerbate their mental health outcomes. In this narrative study, the authors draw on intersectionality theory and Black geography theory to explore the overlapping contexts through which Black womxn move (i.e., physical, social, and symbolic spaces) and how this shapes their overall well-being. Through qualitative interviews with 14 Black womxn of diverse ethnicities, sexualities, and gender expressions, the authors examine how participants interpret and negotiate safety across varying social environments. The authors identified six themes: (a) Geography as a Determinant of Safety; (b) Belonging as a Condition for Safety; (c) Affinity Spaces as Sites of Protection; (d) Whiteness as a Marker of Spatial Unsafety; (e) Hypervigilance as a Survival Strategy; and (f) Negotiating Safety Through Femininity. Overall, findings highlight the political and historical dimensions of safety and the implications of empowering Black womxn and prioritizing their safety.