Maternidade e empoderamento: um estudo sobre identidade interseccional de raça, gênero e classe com adolescentes em situação de vulnerabilidade social

Abstract

The social vulnerability exacerbated by teenage motherhood can restrict the opportunities and life prospects of young girls, limiting their personal and professional growth and generating feelings of hopelessness and social disengagement. This scenario can be even more severe for Black girls, with profound impacts on their identity formation, self-image, self-esteem, and future prospects.This study has the general objective of investigating the ethnic-racial identity of low-income adolescents who are heads of households, their perceptions of the impacts of racism, classism, and sexism on their condition of vulnerability and empowerment. To achieve these objectives, several instruments were used: 1) Sociodemographic Data Questionnaire; 2) Ethnic-racial Identity; 3) Scale of Explanatory Factors of the Condition of Vulnerability; 4) Scale of Perception of Everyday Discrimination; and 5) Empowerment Scale. The study involved 47 adolescents, with an average age of 17.54 years (SD = 1.752), of whom 72% self-identified as mixed-race, 16% as white, and 12% as black. Regarding marital status, 90% are single, 6% are in a stable union, and 4% are married.The results indicate that the adolescents generally have a moderate to high racial identity. An interaction effect was observed between skin color and age: older white adolescents exhibit higher racial identity compared to younger ones, who have a medium racial identity. In contrast, younger Black adolescents show higher racial identity than older Black adolescents. As for the factors explaining the situation of vulnerability, the results show that support was a relevant factor in explaining vulnerability for white youth. Regarding perceived discrimination, the results indicated that the adolescents have a low perception of discrimination. Social class tended to interact with skin color, indicating that Black adolescents who do not work perceive more discrimination than those who work. Finally, the analysis of empowerment demonstrated a high perception of self-esteem, self-efficacy, and community activism. Regarding empowerment, the analyses indicated a high level of individual and collective empowerment. The results of this study contribute to filling the gap in research exploring the intersection of race, gender, and class in the context of social assistance policies. Additionally, they provide valuable insights for improving the practice of professionals working in the field, especially psychologists, by offering data that can guide the development of educational interventions and public policies.