Thread by @asilucollective

What is adultification and how does it impact the education of Black and Indigenous girls in so-called Canada?

Follow our thread to learn more ⤵️

Adultification is the process of perceiving Black and Indigenous girls (as young as 5 years old) as older, less innocent, and threatening.

In educational settings, teaching administration and School Resource Officers criminalize young girls’ behaviour through this process.

Adultification has roots in slavery and colonialism due to associations between Blackness and Indigeneity with criminality and incivility.

Young Black and Indigenous youth have never been granted the purity and innocence that white children have.

Misogyny paired with anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism compounds to affect these young women and girls in a specific way.

Irrespective of their behaviour, Black and Indigenous girl are subject to surveillance and policing in school.

Adultification in educational settings is perpetuated by teaching faculty. Asilu Collective and Ottawa Student Equity Coalition have received reports from young racialized girls detailing their experiences with this.

School Resource Officers (SROs) adultify (and consequently criminalize) Black and Indigenous girls. Police presence in schools exacerbates the likelihood of these girls experiencing violence.

#NoCopsInSchools

Calling out anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and sexism is important, but individual changes aren’t enough.

Support Ottawa Student Equity Coalition’s work to hold school boards and teaching admin accountable. Asilu Collective also wants your support— DM us to get involved!

The work of @policingblack @rebeccaeepstein @tncgonzalez and @drjjblake was very crucial in putting together this thread! We’re very grateful to be able to learn from scholars and activists like themselves.