Adolescence and Girls Resilience

To understand “the dangers of adolescence,” as Kristen Schilt calls them, is imperative to be aware of what puberty in essence represents: a change. It is the transformation from childhood to adulthood through physical and mental modifications. The changes are so radical that teens –and the adults around them— don’t know if they are still kids or have finally become adults. In addition to the physical and mental changes, adolescents have to face peer pressure, sexual harassment –or something worse—, racial stereotypes, and gender expectations. In other words, they are forced to face adulthood reality through the eyes of a child. A dangerous place? Absolutely. 

In spite of the circumstances, It is here where adult attributes are allegedly defined, hence the importance of girls resilience through creation. Creating to survive has become a powerful method of resistance among teenage girls. “I start to feel free telling more and more people,” is what one zine maker has to say about writing. Zine editors have found a way to cope with the dangers of the teenage years; they have found a support system that provides them with “emotional validation.” The video “A Girl Like Me” is also an admirable example of girls trying to understand the racial stereotypes that they are subjected to. The video questions the labels society has given to black girls based on their skin color and, interestingly, their hair. It is evident that instead of supporting, society confuses them. Like Schilt’s zines, the video puts aside the perceptions of scientists –most likely white male scientists— about clinical studies done primarily through observations, allowing us to see the world of African-American girls through their own eyes. Girls’ resistance by means of creation inspires young ladies not only to express their ideas, but –first and foremost— to hold on to their own voice.

Nora