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Black Adolescent Girls: Do Gender Role and Racial Identity: Impact Their Self-Esteem?

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Abstract

This study was designed to explore Black adolescent girls' gender roles, racial identity, and self-esteem. These variables have not been examined together in a study of Black girls, yet studies of girls from other racial/cultural groups have demonstrated significant relationships. This type of exploration is important because Black girls do not experience the same declines in self-esteem as girls from other racial/cultural groups. Gender role orientation and racial identity have been put forth as possible explanations for Black girls' bolstered levels of self-esteem. Results indicated that Black girls with androgynous and masculine characteristics reported high levels of self-esteem. The results also indicated that Black girls with internally defined Black racial identity attitudes reported high levels of domain-specific self-esteem. In addition, androgyny was associated with high scores on internalization (Black racial identity).

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Buckley, T.R., Carter, R.T. Black Adolescent Girls: Do Gender Role and Racial Identity: Impact Their Self-Esteem?. Sex Roles 53, 647–661 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-005-7731-6

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