title: Worldview and strengths-based perspectives: defining normative development for African American female adolescents-implications for Black South African female adolescents.
abstract: The purpose of this article is to examine and understand the social and biological development of inner-city adolescent females in the United States, especially those impacted by poverty and who experience oppression. Africans and their descendents are viewed within a context of negativity throughout the nation and world (Billingsley, 1968, 1992; Hurd, Moore, & Roger, 1995; Ladner, 1972). Oftentimes, their struggles are viewed within a context of personal failures and not within the context of system injustices (Billingsley, 1968, 1992; Hill, 1972; Logan, 1990). Thus, their social development is viewed as abnormal. However, this author purports that there are factors that define the normative development of inner-city adolescent females. These findings have implications for Black female adolescents in South Africa as well. Those implications are delineated in this article.
authors.affiliation: School of Social Work, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059, USA. rgourdine@howard.edu
authors.forename: Ruby M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gourdine
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D001741:Black or African American; D002947:Cities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D011203:Poverty; D011287:Prejudice; D012922:Social Change; D013019:South Africa / Q000208:ethnology; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population