(NAME-MCE) What is "ladylike"?

[Anselmo Villanueva]

New Study: Making Black Girls "Ladylike" Discourages Achievement?

WASHINGTON – A new study shows that teachers tend to view the behavior
of black girls as not "ladylike" and therefore focus disciplinary action
on encouraging behaviors like passivity, deference, and bodily control
at the expense of curiosity, outspokenness, and assertiveness.
Based on two years' observation at a Texas middle school, the Ohio
University study found that teachers' class- and race-based assumptions
of black femininity made them more likely to discourage behaviors and
characteristics that lead to class involvement and educational success.
The teachers' actions appeared to be less the result of conscious racism
or sexism than an unwitting tendency to view the behavior of black girls
through a different lens than that of their peers.

Among the findings of the study: black girls who actively sought out the
positive attention of their teachers in class by asking questions were
reprimanded by teachers, while boys and girls of other racial and ethnic
groups behaving similarly were rarely disciplined in the same manner for
their actions.

"As teachers, we are taught to encourage student curiosity and
confidence because they're great indicators of academic engagement. If
our own unconscious stereotypes are prompting teachers to 'correct'
those behaviors in young black girls, school systems need to look
carefully at including this problem of teachers' perceptions and
assumptions in their diversity training," said Taneika Taylor, director
of the Gender Public Advocacy Coalition's Children As They Are program.
One reason why educators might emphasize "ladylike" behavior unfavorable
to academic success has to do with their perception of black female
students as prematurely adult -- particularly with regard to their
sexuality.

"A lot of the females, especially Black females here, try to have some
authority over me in class. I say to them 'Uh-uh—I'm the only adult in
here.' But they think they are adults too..." said Ms. Duncan, a teacher
at the observed school.

The study found that many teachers described black female students as
too sexually provocative in dress and behavior, a finding consistent
with a 2004 study which found that girls of color are pre-tracked for
underachievement because of teacher beliefs that they are hypersexual
and willing to invest more energy in their appearance than in academic
pursuits.

"Young girls need to be encouraged by educators and parents to achieve
and explore, not to curb their enthusiasm for life and learning in order
to be 'proper ladies'," said Taylor.

Children As They Are supports parents and educators in creating
environments that are safe for all children to express themselves
authentically and explore all of their interests, talents, and feelings
-- whether or not they're considered "right" for boys or girls.

For more information, visit www.gpac.org/cata