What's Whiteness Got to do With it?

J Res Adolesc. 2022 Sep;32(3):938-942. doi: 10.1111/jora.12783. Epub 2022 Aug 18.

Abstract

Racism is as ubiquitous as the air we breathe and the water we drink. This special section highlights burgeoning research examining White youth's development in a racist society. This research is urgent given the current political context in the United States. Although promising, developmental science needs to catch up with the groundbreaking research being conducted on Whiteness in other disciplines. Developmental science requires a conceptual reset with the utilization of theories that center racism in youth development acknowledging the privileged status of Whiteness. Developmental science should acknowledge that racism is a universal influence for all youth's development, including White youth.

Keywords: White youth; Whiteness; racism.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Humans
  • Racism*
  • United States