Journal Article

African American Female Adolescent Identity Development: A Three-Dimensional Perspective

Stevens, Joyce West

1997

Overview

African American female adolescents have unique identity issues that structure developmental tasks. Qualitative data from a longitudinal research project are used to explicate a three-dimensional model of the identity developmental process in early-age African American female adolescents. The limitations of a gender analysis model of voice and connection are noted. It is suggested that the African American female adolescent experiences a relational crisis in both racial and gender identity development. Moreover, African American female adolescents develop skillful, unique, expressionistic, and assertive styles of relating to negotiating perceived hostile environments. Practice implications for child welfare are outlined.

• Publisher: Child Welfare League of America, Inc
• Subject: Adolescent / Adolescent Behavior - psychology / Adolescent Development / Adolescent girls / Adolescents / African Americans / African Americans - psychology / Behavior Development / Behavior Patterns / Biculturalism / Black American people / Black people / Blacks / Child development / Child Welfare / CLINICAL TECHNIQUES AND TREATMENT MODELS / Crises / Cultural Influences / Cultural Pluralism / Developmental tasks / Ethnic Identity / Ethnicity / Family Relationship / Family Role / Female / Females / Gender differences / Gender identity / Girls / Group Membership / Human Geography / Humans / Identity (Psychological) / Identity Formation / Identity Models / Individual Development / Late Adolescents / Minority Groups / Mother-Child Relations / Peer Relationship / Pregnancy / Qualitative research / Race / Racial Factors / Racial Identification / Racial identity / Reference Groups / Research Design / Research projects / Self Actualization / Self Concept / Self Efficacy / Sex Role Identity / Sexual Identity / Social Identity / Socialization / Teenagers / United States / United States History