Some also believe that corporate racism; single motherhood, consumer debt, drugs and poverty are contributing factors of depression in the black woman. Her self-esteem has suffered from childhood thinking that either she was too dark or her nose was too broad which, would make her feel a sense of not being accepted as a beautiful person (Starling, 4). As a child in white America over the last two decades dolls were only white which, black children played with because there were not any black dolls being made therefore, she couldn't relate as being herself. Because of the dolls, the child would identify with an image of beautiful as white with straight hair, thus creating a problem.
Dolls are made to resemble one's self from the color of its skin to the texture of ones hair. It was proven that it made a big impact on how a child looks at them self and their self-esteem. This data was use in the Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court overturning legal racial segregation in the Unites States school system (Leary 3). Another factor is how one cares for their hair, not leaving it natural and using strengtheners to make it straight like a white persons would be acceptable, but to have it natural, afro's, or braids (an Africans heritage, where she originated) was not appealing or accepted. Black women are reluctant to seek help due to myths and beliefs through their community, there are signs and symptoms of depression that one can observe to see if she might be experiencing depression they are as follows:.
1. Persistent sad, anxious or empty moods.
2. Sleeping too little or too much.
3. Increase or decrease in appetite, weight loss or gain (gain is more likely to occur among black women suffering with depression).
4. Loss of interest or pleasure in activities one enjoyed.
5. Restlessness or irritability.
6. Persistent symptoms that do not respond to treatment such as headaches, chronic pain, constipation, digestive disorders.