ADULTIFICATION

Adultification is defined as a “social or cultural stereotype that is based on how adults perceive children in the absence of knowledge of children’s behavior and verbalization.” When society embraces harmful stereotypes for people of the global majority (replaces people of color) -- black women are promiscuous”; black people are violent and criminal” -- these stereotypes are also applied to children.

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IN THE CLASSROOM

Black girls are 6 times more likely to receive out of school suspensions than their White counterparts. As early as age 5, Black girls are viewed by adults as more knowledgeable about sex and adult topics, less in need of nurture and support, and significantly older than white girls of the same age.

Source: Center for American Progress, 2013.

IN THE STATE

There are 35,510 Black girls between the ages of kindergarten through 12th grade in our Central Texas project area according to the 2010 Census. Females of color will comprise approximately 53% of the U.S. population by the year 2050.

Black girls are seen as less innocent as early as age 5.

Source: Girlhood Interrupted: The erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood. Rebecca Epstein Jamilia J Blake Thalia Gonzalez Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality

SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE

3X

Black girls are three times more likely than white girls to receive an office referral

6X

Black girls are 6 times more likely to receive out of school suspensions than their White counterparts

18 %

Between 1996 and 2011, the number of African American female juvenile delinquency cases increased 18 percent white white girls’ share of cases decreased 7 percent.

Source: Edward W. Morris & Brea L. Perry, Girl Behaving Badly? Race, Gender & Subjective Evaluation in the Discipline of Af. Am. Girls.

#OURGIRLSNEEDUS

The Innocence Initiative is a collaboration that will elevate the data, listen to the real-life stories of Black girls, and address disparities that perpetuate adultification through advocacy, training, and a public awareness campaign. 

OUR PLAN TO DISRUPT ADULTIFICATION

The Innocence Initiative is a collaboration that will elevate the data, listen to the real-life stories of Black girls, and address disparities that perpetuate adultification through advocacy, training, and a public awareness campaign. In order to eliminate adultification bias and change the narratives dictating how our children are viewed and treated, our community has decided on 6 courses of action.

COURSES OF ACTION

6 

POTENTIAL IMPACT

#OURGIRLSNEEDUS

There are 35,510 Black girls between the ages of kindergarten through 12th grade in our Central Texas project area according to the 2010 Census. Females of color will comprise approximately 53% of the U.S. population by the year 2050.