The BlackGIRL Project: Examining the Impact and Manifestation of Colorism among Black Adolescent Girls in the United States: A Critical Participatory Action Research Approach
Colorism is a skin tone stratification system that privileges lighter-skinned people over their darker-skinned counterparts. Although colorism remains surprisingly understudied, it has been linked to a variety of negative mental health and social outcomes. Colorism particularly impacts Black girls—particularly in adolescence. This dissertation utilized microaggressions theory and a critical participatory action research framework to describe (1) the manifestation of colorism in the lives of darker-skinned Black girls, (2) the impact of colorism on Black girls’ mental health, (3) the ways in which Black girls cope with and resist colorist experiences, and (4) create a taxonomy of colorist microaggressions. Ten Black adolescent girl researchers were recruited to assist in all aspects of the dissertation research (i.e., theory development, research design, data collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination). The research team conducted a mixed-method study involving a PhotoVoice Project, a survey (n = 57), and semi-structured interviews (n = 9) with adolescent Black girls. Results indicated that colorism is pervasive: 51 percent of participants reported experiencing colorism. Thematic analysis showed that colorist microaggressions negatively impact mental health through manifestation across a variety of settings and relationships (e.g., schools, family, friendships, dating) and through exclusion, segregation, mocking, devaluation, and assumptions of aggressiveness. Social support and inherent resilience were identified as coping and resistance strategies. The results highlight the role of colorism as a social determinant of health among Black girls.
Clinical Psychology, Community Psychology, Psychology, colorism, critical participatory action research, black girls, mental health, skin tone
City University of New York - Graduate Center
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The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York