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African American female adolescent identity development: a three-dimensional perspective
1Boston University School of Social Work, MA, USA.
Child Welfare
|January 1, 1997
Summary
African American adolescent girls face unique racial and gender identity challenges. They develop assertive communication styles to navigate difficult environments, impacting their development.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Adolescent Psychology
- African American Studies
Background:
- African American female adolescents experience distinct identity development processes.
- Traditional gender analysis models may not fully capture their experiences.
- Understanding these unique developmental tasks is crucial for support.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explicate a three-dimensional model of identity development in early-age African American female adolescents.
- To analyze the intersection of racial and gender identity formation.
- To identify unique relational styles developed by this demographic.
Main Methods:
- Utilized qualitative data from a longitudinal research project.
- Employed a developmental psychology framework.
- Focused on early-age African American female adolescents.
Main Results:
- Identified a three-dimensional model for identity development.
- Highlighted a relational crisis in both racial and gender identity.
- Observed the development of skillful, assertive, and expressionistic relational styles.
- Noted limitations in existing gender analysis models.
Conclusions:
- African American female adolescents navigate complex identity development, facing relational crises in both racial and gender domains.
- They develop unique and assertive coping mechanisms to manage perceived hostile environments.
- Findings have significant implications for child welfare practices supporting this population.