When our son was around four years old he told me that Joy was when our hearts smiled. It was the best definition I had heard. He smiled a great deal then and today still does, but I know we have had to fight for his smile to remain, and I can not honestly say that his smile has not dimed a little as he becomes jaded by his experiences in a society that refuses to allow him to be a child until he is no longer such.
Adultification refers to the phenomenon where children, particularly Black children, are perceived and treated as more mature or older than they actually are, depriving them of their childhood and subjecting them to adult expectations and responsibilities at an early age. This harmful bias manifests in various settings, including schools, healthcare, and the criminal justice system.
Davis and Marsh (2020) define adultification as:
‘The concept of adultification is when notions of innocence and vulnerability are not afforded to certain children. This is determined by people and institutions who hold power over them. When adultification occurs outside of the home it is always founded within discrimination and bias….’
Jahnine Davis went further and defined the adultification of Black children as…
‘A persistent and ongoing act of dehumanisation, which explicitly impacts Black children, and influences how they are safeguarded and protected. This form of bias spans pre-birth and remains on a continuum to adulthood. Where at this juncture it becomes absorbed within the normative negative racialised experiences many Black adults encounter throughout their life course. Adultification may differ dependent on an individual's intersecting identity, such as their gender, sexuality, and dis/abilities. However, race and racism remain the central tenant in which this bias operates.’
Our black children are literally not afforded the same protection as any other child, and the boys gender will be a dynamic that will further stop him from being protected. The consequences of this have far reaching negative effects for our boys. They are often seen as older, more aggressive, and less innocent than other children and thus rarely seen as the child who needs protecting when ever there is conflict, say for instance at school. My son has many stories of this. One particular time was when he was eight and he asked me why the boys (his black friends) were always the ones sent the to ‘wall’; a wall in the playground where they were excluded, during playtime as a means of disciplining, when there was any trouble in the playground.
There is a distorted perception of our boys that leads to unfair treatment, harsh disciplinary measures, and increased surveillance; leaving our boys and parents constantly on the defensive. I know the staff at my son’s school stomach must turn when I call, because I am checking every detention, asking for the contextualising of those; some are removed, others he has done when truly he should not have had to do, if the teacher in question saw black boys as boys. Consequently, Black boys are facing higher rates of detention in schools, exclusions and involvement within the criminal justice system; creating for some a "school-to-prison pipeline" that perpetuates systemic inequalities, unless they have support, persistent, and assertive advocacy throughout their lives.
Adultification denies Black boys the opportunity to develop and grow within a nurturing and supportive environment. It can restrict their access to educational and career opportunities, as well as positive social experiences. This can have detrimental effects on their self-esteem, mental health, and overall well-being, leading to a diminished sense of self-worth and increased vulnerability to societal biases and discrimination. It is so crucial that their parents and others involved in the care of our boys are aware of this phenomenon, are bold and resilient enough to challenge, counter when ever it occurs.
Recognising and countering adultification is crucial in addressing systemic racism and for promoting the equitable and nurturing environment our boys need.
Davis, J. (June 2022). Adultification bias within child protection and safeguarding. HM Inspectorate of Probation. Academic Insights, 2022/06.