Challenging the Historical Adultification Bias of Black and Brown Girls

When many Black and Brown girls are asked to recall their childhood and early adolescence, they often remember "growing up so fast." From their home lives to their educational experience to their interactions with society, Black and Brown girls are subject to higher levels of punishment, criminalization, expectations, and responsibilities unlike their peers of other races due to ingrained adultification bias.

What is Adultification Bias?

Adultification bias refers to the societal tendency to perceive and treat Black, Hispanic, and Native American girls as if they are more mature and less innocent, requiring of less comfort and protection. This helps reinforce stereotypes that suggest they are more responsible and less susceptible to child-like mistakes or behavior, often resulting in premature sexualization.

A Historical Examination of Societal Stereotypes and Their Consequences

Stemming from racist, sexist ideologies, the adultification of Black, Hispanic, and Native American girls has its beginnings in American slavery and colonialism. For instance, the “Jezebel” was a derogatory term frequently used to disparage Black women and girls, labeling them sexually promiscuous, lascivious, and predatory towards "powerless" white men. This myth provided justification for the sexual assault and sexual exploitation of enslaved Black women and girls through master-slave relationships and dehumanizing practices such as slave-breeding. Because the institution of slavery derived from a Christian concept, slave women and girls were compared to a Christian concept of the biblical Jezebel, deeming them dark, manipulative, and genetically prone to whoredom. Evidence of these beliefs can be found in scientific or biological racism, a theory that asserts that different races and their different physical, intellectual, and moral characteristics determine their superiority or inferiority in society. With white women being the standard of purity and chastity, Black women and girls and their natural, "over-developed" physique subjected them to both, objectification and inferiority.

According to Ruby Hamad (2020), author of White Tears/Brown Scars, "th[e] divestment from innocence begins when [B]lack girls are as young as five. A 2017 study conducted by research professionals from Georgetown University discovered that '"participants perceived [B]lack girls as needing less protection and nurturing than white girls, and that [B]lack girls were perceived to know more about adult topics and more knowledgeable about sex than their white peers"' (p. 27). From this discovery, researchers were able to link Black girls to harsher punishment for minor school violations such as not conforming to the school dress code and loitering against school policy. Because of this bias, they are more likely to be suspended, expelled, or referred to law enforcement, unlike white girls of the same age, causing feelings of alienation and feelings of being "inherently" problematic. The perpetuation of the Jezebel stereotype has an adverse effect on girls’ academic performance and educational advancement as it hinders their willingness to seek support while simultaneously limiting the assistance they receive. This compromises their sense of safety and security within educational environments.

Stereotypes are not only restricting the potential of Black girls, but also Hispanic and Native American girls. The historical "Spicy Sexpot," a racial slur that characterized Latina women as hypersexual, fiery, emotionally volatile, and sexually aggressive, has a significant influence on the way Latina girls are perceived today. This stereotype, like most, derives from white colonialism. To justify the exploitation and domination of these women, white men portrayed them as hot-blooded sex symbols, reducing them to morally loose, one-dimensional beings. Like the Black Jezebel, the Spicy Sexpot shapes how Hispanic girls are perceived and treated in schools and society at large. In school settings, for instance, girls are penalized and disciplined disproportionately for behavior considered “too assertive” or “inappropriate,” as their confidence or cultural expression may be mistaken for aggression or promiscuity. This not only limits academic and social progression but also negatively impacts their self-esteem and sense of identity. The graveness of this stereotype also leads to the fetishization of young Latina girls, making them more vulnerable to harassment and sexualization from an early age.

Based on a fabricated account of a 10 year-old Native American girl whose real name was Motoaka from the Powhatan tribe, the “Pocahontas Perplex” awakes nostalgia from most childhoods. The only difference is, Pocahontas’ tale isn’t just a Disney classic, but a real story involving real people and real-world consequences. Similar to the Black Mammy archetype, the Pocahontas Perplex causes gradual psychological harm and is the direct opposite of another prevalent archetype surrounding the Indigenous community known as the Native American "squaw." According to Hamad (2020), the squaw "comes from the Algonquin word for [the female's reproductive part] and can be defined as a "sexless, unattractive workhorse who was relegated to the kind of manual work that white women were considered too highly prized for" (p. 60). Unlike the undesirable squaw, the Pocahontas stereotype primarily portrays Native girls as submissive and alluring "Indian Princesses" who are noble, self-sacrificing, and eager to serve or save white men, even to the extent of tribal and cultural obliteration. Having the effects of the white savior complex, Pocahontas was naturally willing to surrender her own life or live hopelessly had her white savior never arrived or returned to free her from her “savage,” “barbaric” culture. The danger of this myth lies in its subtle ability to influence Native American girls to relinquish their values, beliefs, and cultural traditions to assimilate into European society. Today, the Pocahontas Perplex and its mythical exaggeration and sexualization has contributed to the murder and disappearance of hundreds of Indigenous girls annually. According to the National Crime Information Center, in 2022 alone, there were 5,487 cases of missing Native American women and girls reported nationwide.

Challenging Adultification Bias by Combatting Historical Stereotypes

Challenging the adultification of Black, Hispanic, and Native American girls requires a shared commitment from educators, families, and communities. We must actively challenge harmful stereotypes and biases that shape the narratives that bind them. Fostering an equitable environment that allows them to thrive, unburdened by unjust adult expectations, is essential. By promoting awareness, culturally-sensitive education, and providing unconditional support to girls, we can protect the innocence and image of Black and Brown girls, who are most under and misrepresented.

Hamad, R. (2020). White Tears Brown Scars: How White Feminism Betrays Women of Color. Catapult.

Innocent Black, Hispanic, and Native American girls