Girlhood Interrupted - The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Sarah

Groundbreaking study by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality presents data showing that adults perceive Black girls as less innocent and more adult-like than white peers, particularly ages 5–14. The report compares perceived developmental needs and concludes these adultification patterns may help explain disproportionate punitive treatment of Black girls in education and juvenile justice. It calls for new research, policy and legislative reforms, and training for educators and law enforcement to reduce implicit bias.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages23

Reading Time58 min

AccessFree to download

Executive Summary

Snapshot of the Data

In the Education System

In the Juvenile Justice System

Call to Action

Introduction

The Construct of Childhood and the Consequences of Culpability

Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood REBECCA EPSTEIN JAMILIA J. BLAKE THALIA GONZÁLEZ Acknowledgements This report was made possible by the generous support of the Open Society Foundations, the NoVo Foundation, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. Views expressed in this report are the authors’ alone, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of these foundations. The authors of this report are Rebecca Epstein, the Executive Director of the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality; Jamilia J. Blake, Associate Professor at Texas A&M University, and Thalia González, Associate Professor at Occidental College. The Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality, which published this report, works with policymakers, researchers, practitioners, and advocates to develop effective policies and practices that alleviate poverty and inequality in the United States. The Center’s areas of anti-poverty work include national, state, and local policy and program recommendations that help marginalized girls, promote effective workforce and education policies and programs for disconnected youth, and develop policy to combat deep poverty. Our strategies are to partner with agencies and non-profit organizations to host national conferences, produce and widely disseminate in-depth reports, engage in public speaking, and participate in national coalitions and working groups. The authors extend their deep thanks to those who offered their expertise reviewing drafts of this report: Peter Edelman, Anne Gregory, Daniel J. Losen, and Monique W. Morris. We are also grateful for the assistance of the Center on Poverty’s Assistant, Becca Shopiro; the Center’s Research Assistants, Greg Carter and Rachel Smith; and Professor Blake’s Research Assistants, Asha Unni and Yan Wang. Executive Summary This groundbreaking study by the Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality provides—for the first time—data showing that adults view Black girls as less innocent and more adult-like than their white peers, especially in the age range of 5–14. The report builds on similar results that have emerged from studies of adult perceptions of Black boys. In 2014, for example, research by Professor Phillip Goff and colleagues revealed that beginning at the age of 10, Black boys are more likely than their white peers to be misperceived as older, viewed as guilty of suspected crimes, and face police violence if accused of a crime.1 SNAPSHOT OF THE DATA Compared to white girls of the same age, survey participants perceive that • Black girls need less nurturing • Black girls need less protection • Black girls need to be supported less • Black girls need to be comforted less • Black girls are more independent • Black girls know more about adult topics • Black girls know more about sex These results are profound, with far-reaching implications. Our findings reveal a potential contributing factor to the disproportionate rates of punitive treatment in the education and juvenile justice systems for Black girls. IN THE EDUCATION SYSTEM In light of proven disparities in school discipline, we suggest that the perception of Black girls as less innocent may contribute to harsher punishment by educators and school resource officers. Furthermore, the view that Black girls need less nurturing, protection, and support and are more independent may translate into fewer leadership and mentorship opportunities in schools. IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE SYSTEM Given established discrepancies in law enforcement and juvenile court practices that disproportionately affect Black girls, the perception of Black girls as less innocent and more adult-like may contribute to more punitive exercise of discretion by those in positions of authority, greater use of force, and harsher penalties. Call to Action This report represents a key step in addressing the disparate treatment of Black girls in public systems. We challenge resea

FAQs

What does the report mean by “adultification” of Black girls?

It refers to the perception of Black girls as less innocent and more adult-like than white girls of the same age.

What age group does the study emphasize?

The findings are strongest in the age range of 5–14, where adult perceptions differ most from those about white peers.

How might these perceptions affect the education system?

The report suggests that viewing Black girls as less innocent could contribute to harsher punishment and fewer leadership or mentorship opportunities in schools.

Sep 17, 2026

Uploaded by Sarah