Over the past 15 years, I have had the opportunityto conduct research and interv- tion programming with African American girls. Several of my graduate students, mostly African American women, pursuing their doctorates in psychology worked closely with me in this work. We have conducted hundreds of literature reviews, read many journal articles and reports, published many papers, and engaged over a thousand African American adolescent girls in a cultural curriculum speci?cally designed for them. This book was written to summarize this work and was c- ceived to be an educational resource for diverse audiences who work with African American girls including: (1) researchers who conduct research and intervention programming; (2) professionals who work with African American adolescent girls such as teachers, social workers, prevention specialists, therapists and counselors, and mental health workers; and (3) a general audience of persons with an interest in African American adolescent female's well-being and developmentsuch as parents, community leaders, girl's group leaders (i. e. , Girl Scout leaders), and church and spiritual leaders. This book is both descriptive and practical. Each chapter covers the most current literature on African American adolescent girls, and reviews and discusses ways in which they are similar to and unique from girls in other ethnic groups and from African American boys. An understanding of who they are and how they function allows us to make recommendations about ways to support these girls and to re- cus and/or strengthen already positive attributes.
The teenage years can be exciting for girls, as they develop into young women and anticipate their future. For some, however, this developmental stage may be tempered by increased risks for teen pregnancy, school failure, and some health problems. African American Girls: Reframing Perceptions and Changing Experiences explores not only the challenges and stressors confronting this unique population, but also the strengths and resiliencies used to meet them. Examining prevailing trends while avoiding simplistic generalizations, the book is both descriptive (e.g., explaining similarities and differences with girls of other ethnicities and African-American boys in critical areas) and useful (e.g., providing concrete guidelines for professionals working to support prosocial development and prevent risky behaviors). This unique volume:Addresses salient issues of self and identity.Examines crucial domains, such as relationships, achievements and expectations, and issues that have a major impact on health and well-being.Offers practical recommendations and resources for working with African-American girls during the period when life experiences and decisions are most likely to affect adult outcomes. Discusses the lives of girls from diverse families, communities, and circumstances.Explores the influences of family, peers, community, and cultural traditions. Features sample activities for promoting positive development.Includes quotations reflecting the perspectives of the girls in their own words.African American Girls is an essential resource for a wide range of professionals, including clinical, child, and school psychologists, counselors, therapists, and social workers. Whether one's specialty is prevention, intervention, education, or research, this book is a must-have volume.
