Online Gendered Racism of Black Girls

Black adolescent girls encounter online gendered racism when using social media platforms. In comments, posts, group chats, and direct messages, Black girls reported differential treatment on the basis of both their race and gender. Perpetrators of online gendered racism included people of all racial and gender identities, including school peers and adults. 

This qualitative study employed a grounded theory approach with one round of one-on-one virtual semi-structured interviews with a socioeconomic diverse sample of 41 U.S. Black adolescent girls ages 14-18. Interview topics covered Black girls' perceptions of social media, negative comments they receive, and the impact of online gendered racism on their mental health and well-being. Additionally, participants submitted screenshots of online gendered racism toward themselves or other Black girls, which was analyzed by the GRAMH team.