I'm No Jezebel; I am Young, Gifted, and Black: Identity, Sexuality, and Black Girls

Abstract

Scholars have highlighted the detrimental influence of racially charged stereotypes and images on self-perception and well being. Others have suggested that identity components (e.g., ethnic identity and self-concept) serve a protective function. The purposes of this study were (a) to explore the relationship among stereotypic images, beauty standards that are consistent with "colorism," and identity components of African American girls and (b) to determine the impact of these variables on girls' sexual attitudes. African American girls (N = 270) between the ages of 10-15 years old completed a self-report questionnaire, which included a new measure, the Modern Jezebel Scale, that was used to assess stereotypic images. A series of multiple regressions were performed using identity components, stereotypic images, and colorism as independent variables and sexual attitude variables as the outcome. In addition, interaction effects were explored to determine if identity components moderated the influence of stereotypic images and colorism on sexual attitudes. As expected, findings revealed significant positive relationships among stereotypic images, colorism, and sexual risk. In addition, significant interactions were found between identity components and stereotypes. Instead of identity serving as a buffer against the negative effects of societal messages, endorsement of stereotypes and colorism increased sexual risk in the context of identity components. Results suggest that a strong identity may not be enough to reduce sexual risk if girls cannot critically analyze the societal messages that they receive. Implications for prevention efforts are discussed.

Gold Diggers, Video Vixens, and Jezebels: Stereotype Images and Substance Use Among Urban African American Girls

“…23 The MJS is a 20-item measure that assesses black adolescent girls' identification with the various stereotype images that have been constructed about black women. Items for the scale were adapted from the SRBWS.…”

“…Results indicated that girls who identified more with stereotypical images of black women in music videos were more likely to emphasize the importance of appearance in their own lives. In addition, Townsend et al 23 explored contemporary stereotype images among African American adolescent girls using the Modern Jezebel Scale (MJS), a modified version of the Stereotypic Roles of Black Women Scale (SRBWS). 24 According to Townsend et al, 23 girls who endorsed the Modern Jezebel stereotype believed that African American girls are highly sexual, aggressive, and even combative.…”

“…In addition, Townsend et al 23 explored contemporary stereotype images among African American adolescent girls using the Modern Jezebel Scale (MJS), a modified version of the Stereotypic Roles of Black Women Scale (SRBWS). 24 According to Townsend et al, 23 girls who endorsed the Modern Jezebel stereotype believed that African American girls are highly sexual, aggressive, and even combative. Because of their increased relevance, we focus on these contemporary stereotypes in our study, examining their relationship to substance use among low-income African American girls.…”

Cultural Signification through Reader’s Theatre: An Analysis of African American Girls and Their Hair

“…Two African American focused reader's theatre scripts written in 2005 for use at the middle or secondary level were located and are readily accessible (Quinn, 2005;Satchell, 2005). Likewise, there is a body of literature from 2010 to 2011 examining the impact of identity construction on the educational experiences of African American girls during adolescence and high school years, however, much less work exists in the area of pre-adolescence (Brown, 2011;Brooks, Sekayi, Savage, Waller, & Picot, 2010;Hall & Brown-Thirston, 2011;Townsend, Jones, Neilands, & Jackson, 2010). Aside from Buddington's (2000) Clark and Clark-styled (1947) doll study titled, "Barbie.com and Racial Identity," and the research of Belgrave, Chase-Vaughn, Gray, Addison, and Cherry (2000) exploring "The Effectiveness of a Culture-and Gender-Specific Intervention" on increasing resiliency among African American girls, the body of knowledge exploring identity formation among pre-adolescent African American girls is limited.…”

The relationship between ethnic identity and Chlamydia and Gonorrhea infections among low-income detained African American adolescent females

“…However, among these small number of studies, findings have been mixed (Beadnell et al, 2003; Lye, Chng, & Gelia-Vargas, 2000; Townsend, Thomas, Neilands, & Jackson, 2010). For instance, among a sample of mostly adult African American, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander gay males, no relationship was found between ethnic identity and risky sexual behaviors (Lye, Chng, & Gelia-Vargas, 2000).…”