A Narrative Exploration of Anti-Black Sexism in School and Identity Development Among Black Teen Girls

• In Event: My Development Is Intersectional: Exploring the Development of Black Girls in Educational Settings

Abstract

This study examined the identity development of adolescent Black girls who have been punished in schools. Using data from the Lavender Girls Project, a study about the academic experiences of Girls of Color across the country, this narrative inquiry explored how perceptions of anti-Black sexism related to school discipline shaped the identity development of Black adolescent girls. Additionally, this study considered how these students used their identity as Black girls to inform their resistance to perceived anti-Black sexism. This study revealed that participants internalized negative messages about Black girls as a result of perceived anti-Black sexism-motivated punishments in school at various grade levels. Additionally, participants use their knowledge and experiences of anti-Black sexism to navigate and resist punishment.

Authors

• Shena Sanchez, University of Alabama

• Maria Jones, Emory University