Therapy for Black Girls: Session 401

Episode Title: A Conversation on Black Girlhood and Womanhood with Dr. Lauren Mims
Host: Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
Guest: Dr. Lauren Mims
Date: March 5, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delves into the nuances of Black girlhood and womanhood, focusing on the development, joys, challenges, and representation of Black girls today. Dr. Joy Harden Bradford speaks with Dr. Lauren Mims, developmental psychologist and assistant professor at NYU Steinhardt, whose research centers on the sociocultural experiences shaping Black children’s development. Together, they explore the evolving contours of Black girlhood, adultification bias, media representation, and the critical role of family, educators, and affirming spaces.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Dr. Lauren Mims’ Background and Approach

• Dr. Mims shares her journey into developmental psychology, emphasizing the importance of a “whole child” approach that bridges Black history and child development ([05:34], [06:45]).
• Her work includes policy roles, such as the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans ([07:22]).

Notable Quote

"I really wanted to take this whole child approach to understanding how to best support children's development."
– Dr. Lauren Mims ([05:34])

2. What Black Girls Say They Need

• Black children voiced the need for basic support (e.g., functional bathrooms, better food), but also for teachers to see and affirm their individuality, especially regarding discipline and stereotypes ([08:07], [09:25]).
• Experiences of being policed for natural behaviors (e.g., “hip swish”) highlight ongoing challenges.

Memorable Moment

“My hips swish naturally back and forth. People would think that I had an attitude.”
– Dr. Lauren Mims, recalling a child's experience ([08:27])

3. Adultification Bias and Its Effects

• Georgetown research is cited on how Black girls are viewed by adults as less innocent and more adult-like from as young as age five, leading to harsher discipline and misunderstanding ([10:49], [11:30]).
• Mims cites a case where a Black girl was searched for contraband after giggling in class, illustrating the harmful effects of bias.

Notable Quote

"Adultification bias really takes that away from Black girls because... they were seen as kind of miniature Black women."
– Dr. Lauren Mims ([12:38])

4. Practices for Educators: Reflection and Representation

• Mims advocates for self-reflection among educators: considering how interactions with Black girls manifest (e.g., are they most often about discipline?) and inventorying representation in the classroom ([13:13], [14:22]).
• The importance of positive, affirming representation in literature and curriculum is emphasized, meaningfully impacting identity ([15:06]).
• Educators should foster spaces for nuanced discussion without reinforcing trauma ([16:31]).

Notable Quote

“I remember when the first time that I read a Black girl book in school, it was ‘Warriors Don’t Cry’ by Melba Pattillo Beals. That was incredibly powerful when I was younger.”
– Dr. Lauren Mims ([15:46])

5. What is Black Girlhood in 2025?

• The hosts reflect on how Black girlhood today is shaped by both enduring joys (sisterhood, games) and increased exposure to societal issues via technology ([17:43]).
• Kids are engaged with skincare, veganism, and exercise, but also with conversations about police brutality, community violence, and making sense of difficult news ([29:10]).
• Social media enables identity exploration but also increases exposure to racism and potential trauma ([18:56], [21:31]).

Notable Quote

“Their childhood is different... We have this information ecosystem that is reaching them at younger ages than we started thinking about these things.”
– Dr. Lauren Mims ([18:15])

6. Coping, Resilience, and “Ordinary Black Family Magic”

• Dr. Mims describes supportive family structures (kinship, “othermothering,” spirituality) as “ordinary Black family magic,” vital for resilience ([43:17]).
• Positive, identity-affirming conversations with adults and family act as protective glitter that “sticks” with children through challenging experiences ([45:39]).

Notable Quote

“I think a lot about ordinary Black family magic. Some of these coping things, they stick to you like glitter.”
– Dr. Lauren Mims ([43:17])

7. The Role of Media and Representation

• There is a lack of Black girl protagonists in mainstream TV/film, though social and alternative media (YouTube, TikTok) offer some platforms ([34:21]).
• Dr. Mims points out the necessity of authentic, everyday narratives—not just trauma or “exceptional” stories ([36:56]).
• Media can support or harm identity development, especially during adolescence, a highly sensitive and rewarding developmental period ([54:14]).

8. Developmental Theory Reimagined for Black Children

• Dr. Mims discusses adapting and grounding developmental models (e.g., the Phenomenological Variant of Ecological Systems Theory—PVEST) to reflect Black children’s realities ([40:01]).
• Black children “report what they observe, but they don’t internalize it early on,” signaling resilience and the importance of contextual, affirming messages ([41:17]).

Notable Quote

“Black children are not just sponges… due to their identities, they’re more likely to experience bias and discrimination... but that will lead to stress, which does not necessarily mean negative life outcomes.”
– Dr. Lauren Mims ([41:17])

9. Practical Advice for Supporting Black Girls

• Surround Black girls with affirming narratives—books, discussions, and “brain-building” activities.
• Recognize that developmental rewards and pains are heightened during adolescence; positive interactions and representation matter even more ([53:21]).

Notable Quote

“Those little things can stick with them... it may be the thing that's glitter later on.”
– Dr. Lauren Mims ([54:44])

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [05:34] – Dr. Mims describes her background and holistic approach
• [08:07] – What Black children say they need at school
• [10:49] – Adultification bias and its consequences
• [13:13] – Self-reflection and tips for educators
• [17:43] – What Black girlhood looks like in 2025
• [21:31] – Technology, media, and coping with societal issues
• [29:10] – How Black girls are spending their days; identity, health, family
• [34:21] – Lack of Black girl representation in mainstream media
• [40:01] – New frameworks in developmental psychology for Black children
• [43:17] – “Ordinary Black family magic” and resilience
• [54:44] – Advice for parents/caregivers and the “glitter” effect

Memorable Moments & Quotes

• “I love the idea that we don’t know. I think that is an important space for us to come into.”
  – Dr. Lauren Mims ([17:49])

• “We want to build conscious folks who are going to change the world, but also knowing that developmentally, like, they're still changing mentally, their brain is still developing and we want to make sure that they are given these identity affirming experiences and nurtured and supported.”
  – Dr. Lauren Mims ([25:00])

• “Teenagers still need us... Our teenagers still, they still need us when they're adolescents.”
  – Dr. Lauren Mims ([31:02])

Further Resources and Connection

• Follow Dr. Lauren Mims: Instagram @dr.laurenmims | The HomePlace Lab ([56:06])
• Learn more about the HomePlace Lab: digestible research-based resources on child development and mental health ([56:06])
• For more information about finding a therapist or resources: therapyforblackgirls.com

Closing

The episode closes with gratitude for Dr. Mims’ expertise, a reminder of the importance of affirming, supportive environments for Black girls, and an encouragement to keep the conversation going within listeners’ families and communities.

For questions or guest suggestions, reach out to Therapy for Black Girls through the show’s website or social media. #tbginsession