The Innocence Initiative is designed to educate and build awareness about adultification bias. Adultification bias is a form of racial prejudice where Black and Brown children are treated by adults as being more mature than they actually are. Black girls are disproportionately affected by adultification bias. We elevate the data, amplify the real-life stories of Black girls, and address disparities that perpetuate adultification through advocacy and training.
DID YOU KNOW?
Adultification bias stems from deeply ingrained stereotypes that unfairly depict Black and Brown children as older and more mature than they actually are. This harmful perception often results in these children facing stricter disciplinary action, increased scrutiny, and less empathy and support compared to their white peers.
15X
Black girls are 15 times more likely than white girls to experience a school-related arrest*
4.5X
Law enforcement officers are 4.5 times more likely to overestimate the age of Black and Hispanic boys than white boys**
18X
Black children are 18 times more likely to be tried as adults compared to white children**
* Source: Morris, E. W., & Perry, B. L. (2017). Girls behaving badly? Race, gender, and subjective evaluation in the discipline of African American girls. Sociology of Education, 90(2), 127-148. https://doi.org/10.1177/0038040717694876
** Source: Goff, P. A., Jackson, M. C., Di Leone, B. A., Culotta, C. M., & DiTomasso, N. A. (2014). The essence of innocence: Consequences of dehumanizing Black children. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106(4), 526–545. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035663
BLACK GIRLS ARE SEEN AS LESS INNOCENT
as early as age
5
Source: Girlhood Interrupted: The erasure of Black Girls’ Childhood. Rebecca Epstein Jamilia J Blake Thalia Gonzalez Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality.
BE PART OF THE CHANGE
If you’ve heard Black girls labeled as “fast” or “grown,” or Black and Hispanic boys called “men” by police, you’ve witnessed adultification bias in action. BIPOC children are often perceived and treated as older than they are, stripping them of their innocence and subjecting them to unfair treatment.
You have the power to CHANGE that.
Our interactive trainings equip parents, teachers, community groups, and those in the criminal legal system with equitable evaluation frameworks to combat adultification bias. We believe Black girls are our proxy for change, and by centering their stories, we uncover the intersections of race, gender, and class. Our expert-led sessions guide participants in evaluating the impact of adultification bias within their communities, educating them on effective tools for change, and activating them to translate data into policies that foster safer, more equitable environments for youth.
BREAKTHE CYCLE
Register for our next training or request one for your group.
ADULTIFICATION BIAS
IN THE CLASS ROOM
Black girls are 6 times more likely to receive out of school suspensions than their White counterparts. As early as age 5, Black girls are viewed by adults as more knowledgeable about sex and adult topics, less in need of nurture and support, and significantly older than white girls of the same age. Source: Center for American Progress, 2013.
IN THE STATE
Measure is committed to promoting equitable policies that improve outcomes for Black girls. Whether it’s through investments in education, healthcare, or juvenile justice reform, we believe that targeted policies have the potential to create a more just and equitable society for Black girls to thrive.
SCHOOL TO PRISON PIPELINE
15X
Black female students are 15 times more likely than white female students to be subjected to a school-related arrest
10X
Black girls are 10 times more likely than their white counterparts to be expelled under zero-tolerance policies
5YO
As early as age 5, Black girls are viewed by adults as more knowledgeable about sex and adult topics, less in need of nurture and support and significantly older than white girls of the same age
Source: Edward W. Morris & Brea L. Perry, Girl Behaving Badly? Race, Gender & Subjective Evaluation in the Discipline of Af. Am. Girls.
#OURGIRLSNEEDUS
The Innocence Initiative is a collaboration that will elevate the data, listen to the real-life stories of Black girls, and address disparities that perpetuate adultification through advocacy, training, and a public awareness campaign.
