STUDIES:   

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“These results suggest that Black girls are viewed as more adult than their white peers at almost all stages of childhood.” & “School-based police officers, among others, may also be more likely to view Black girls as older and less innocent."

Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood Across all age ranges, participants viewed Black girls collectively as more adult than white girls. Responses revealed, in particular, that participants perceived Black girls as needing less protection and nurturing than white girls, and that Black girls were perceived to know more about adult topics and are more knowledgeable about sex than their white peers. The most significant differences were found in the age brackets that encompass mid-childhood and early adolescence—ages 5–9 and 10–14— and continued to a lesser degree in the 15- to 19-year-old age bracket. No statistically significant differences were found in the age group 0–4. Across all age ranges, participants viewed Black girls collectively as more adult than white girls. Responses revealed, in particular, that participants perceived Black girls as needing less protection and nurturing than white girls, and that Black girls were perceived to know more about adult topics and are more knowledgeable about sex than their white peers. The most significant differences were found in the age brackets that encompass mid-childhood and early adolescence—ages 5–9 and 10–14— and continued to a lesser degree in the 15- to 19-year-old age bracket. No statistically significant differences were found in the age group 0–4.
Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood
Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality
Epstein, Rebecca / Blake, Jamilia J. / González, Thalia
August 2017
https://www.blendedandblack.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/girlhood-interrupted.pdf
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