The Sacred Selves of Adolescent Girls: Hard Stories of Race Class and Gender

Adolescent girls between the ages of fifteen and eighteen shared with Parker and her co-authors life stories that show how they struggle to make sense of their experiences of racism sexism classism and heterosexism in light of their belief in God or their concept of a higher divine power. The groups of adolescent girls interviewed include Korean Americans African Americans Native Americans Latinas working-class whites and lesbians. The closing chapter revisits the prominent themes from each chapter challenging those concerned about fostering a spirituality that is life giving for girls who struggle with racism classism sexism and heterosexism. In addition it explores the concepts of realization resistance resilience and ritual as four essential components for nurturing a wholesome spirituality in adolescent girls Evelyn L. Parker is Assistant Professor of Christian Education at Perkins School of Theology Southern Methodist University. She is the author of Trouble Dont Last Always: Emancipatory Hope among African American Adolescents (The Pilgrim Press 2003).