The Multiple Worlds of Queer Black Girls

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Abstract

The experiences and worldmaking practices of queer Black girls and women remain significantly underexplored, despite the profound challenges they encounter. This study examines the layered nature of identity at the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and age, offering nuance to existing discourse by attending to the ways queer Black girls navigate their sociocultural environments. Guided by Phelan et al.’s (1999) Multiple Worlds model and informed by Queer Black Feminism (Harris, 1996; Hammonds, 1999), this work brings together and explores key strands of scholarship that illuminate the limitations of current understandings and the possibilities for more expansive ways of knowing. As such, it highlights the insights and tensions that shape this growing area of inquiry, inviting dialogue about the directions future research might take.

Author

• Kristina Johnson-Yates, Indiana University - Indianapolis