Exploring the experience that black girls in local authority care have of adultification

Adultification is defined as a two-fold process of socialization, whereby children act and behave in ways that suggest a much more mature development; based on social or cultural assumptions about how they should behave at a particular stage of development (Goff et al., 2014 as cited by The Georgetown Centre on Poverty and Inequality, 2017, p.4).

Jamilia Blake calls for a more nuanced, race and gender sensitive approach to the conversation about the adultification of children and my proposed research aims to do this. By exploring factors that contribute to the adultification of black girls prior to entering local authority care, as well as the persistence of this phenomena whilst in care, this research will make a significant contribution to our understanding of this area, as well shining a light on this underrepresented group

This research will provide useful information to support the development of care provision practice within local authorities and schools that better ensures that issues are identified and assessed in ways that more effectively protect and support vulnerable Black girls. The concept-map will contribute to the academic conversation around adultification, providing a perspective that recognises the multifaceted and interdependent nature of the factors that contribute to the adultification of black girls.