Disparities in Peer Perceptions of African American Girls

• In Event: Roundtable: Theory

Abstract

Introduction – Literature shows that young African American girls are viewed through a certain lens, often a negative one, including by their peers. This paper explores how non-African American young people perceive young African Americans girls in the US.
Methods – This was qualitative study used focus groups of young adults (ages 18–26) to explore their perceptions and attitudes toward young African American girls, including two groups each of non-African American girls and boys. Data were manually coded and analyzed using the Atlas.ti software to identify codes, patterns, and themes in the responses.
Results – Various themes emerged during the focus groups, with varied opinions among males and females non-African American groups. Following themes emerged - differential treatment, independence, perceived as “Loud” and “Rowdy,” dichotomous Image – mature early yet seen as slow, among others.
Conclusion – The results provide valuable insights for re-educating and raising awareness among parents, educators, and peers to support better life trajectories and outcomes for African American girls.

Author

• Sherie Sara Sam, Shenandoah University