“When I Think of Black Girls, I Think of Opportunities”: Black Girls' Identity Development and the Protective Role of Parental Socialization in Educational Settings

While educational settings may be envisioned as safe spaces that facilitate learning, foster creativity, and promote healthy development for youth, research has found that this is not always true for Black girls. Their negative experiences within educational settings are both gendered and racialized, often communicating broader societal perceptions of Black girls that ultimately shape their identity development. Utilizing semi-structured interviews with adolescent Black girls (n = 12), the current investigation explored Black girls' educational experiences, their meaning making of Black girlhood, and the role of parents in their positive development. By centering Black girls' voices, this study illuminated how Black girls negotiate their multiple marginalized identities and how their identities are shaped by their home and school environments. Findings revealed that Black girls are aware of the difficulties in navigating educational settings for Black girls, but this awareness was coupled with parental support that promoted positive gendered racial identities for Black girls in middle school and high school. This investigation advanced current knowledge of Black girls' identity development and highlighted the protective role of parental socialization. Future research directions and implications are also discussed

Density, abundance, survival, and ranging patterns of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Mississippi Sound following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

After the Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill began in April 2010, studies were initiated on northern Gulf of Mexico common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Mississippi Sound (MSS) to determine density, abundance, and survival, during and after the oil spill, and to compare these results to previous research in this region. Seasonal boat-based photo-identification surveys (2010-2012) were conducted in a section of MSS to estimate dolphin density and survival, and satellite-linked telemetry (2013) was used to determine ranging patterns. Telemetry suggested two different ranging patterns in MSS: (1) inshore waters with seasonal movements into mid-MSS, and (2) around the barrier islands exclusively. Based upon these data, dolphin density was estimated in two strata (Inshore and Island) using a spatially-explicit robust-design capture-recapture model. Inshore and Island density varied between 0.77-1.61 dolphins km-2 ([Formula: see text] = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.28-1.53) and 3.32-5.74 dolphins km-2 ([Formula: see text] = 4.43, 95% CI: 2.70-5.63), respectively. The estimated annual survival rate for dolphins with distinctive fins was very low in the year following the spill, 0.73 (95% CI: 0.67-0.78), and consistent with the occurrence of a large scale cetacean unusual mortality event that was in part attributed to the DWH oil spill. Fluctuations in density were not as large or seasonally consistent as previously reported. Total abundance for MSS extrapolated from density results ranged from 4,610 in July 2011 to 3,046 in January 2012 ([Formula: see text] = 3,469, 95% CI: 3,113-3,725)

Map of the Mississippi Sound region and common bottlenose dolphin study area in the northern Gulf of Mexico.

<p>a. The Mississippi Sound (2,129 km²), Lake Borgne (730 km²; area west of Half Moon Island), Bay Boudreau (778 km²; Marsh) common bottlenose dolphin stock area, surrounding waters, and the habitat strata (Inshore and Island) for estimating density and abundance (Island stratum − waters <1 km from a barrier island and a 2-km wide corridor in the passes between islands; Inshore stratum—waters north of the Island stratum and Bay Boudreau). b. Mississippi Sound study area with east-west transect lines for capture-recapture photo-identification surveys, and capture locations of 19 satellite-linked tagged dolphins (capture locations may represent multiple tagged dolphins).</p

Overall common bottlenose dolphin abundance and density estimates by stratum in Mississippi Sound from the spatially-explicit robust-design capture-recapture model applied to 2010–2012 photo-identification data.

<p>Overall common bottlenose dolphin abundance and density estimates by stratum in Mississippi Sound from the spatially-explicit robust-design capture-recapture model applied to 2010–2012 photo-identification data.</p

Sighting frequency of marked individual common bottlenose dolphins from Mississippi Sound photo-identification surveys during 2010–2012.

<p>Sighting frequency of marked individual common bottlenose dolphins from Mississippi Sound photo-identification surveys during 2010–2012.</p

Number of individuals sighted during photo-identification surveys and discovery curve for common bottlenose dolphins in Mississippi Sound during 2010–2012.

<p>Number of individuals sighted during photo-identification surveys and discovery curve for common bottlenose dolphins in Mississippi Sound during 2010–2012.</p

Monthly hot spot number (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), and hot spot overlap number and percentage between consecutive months at p < 0.05.

<p>Monthly hot spot number (p < 0.05 and p < 0.01), and hot spot overlap number and percentage between consecutive months at p < 0.05.</p

Monthly 2013 Getis-Ord Gi* (“hotspots”) of the inshore common bottlenose dolphins tagged with satellite-linked transmitters in Mississippi Sound.

<p>Monthly 2013 Getis-Ord Gi* (“hotspots”) of the inshore common bottlenose dolphins tagged with satellite-linked transmitters in Mississippi Sound.</p

Review of common bottlenose dolphin density (dolphins km⁻²) estimates for the Mississippi Sound region grouped by survey type, source, years of study, and season (Coefficients of variation are in parentheses).

<p>Review of common bottlenose dolphin density (dolphins km⁻²) estimates for the Mississippi Sound region grouped by survey type, source, years of study, and season (Coefficients of variation are in parentheses).</p

Estimated common bottlenose dolphin density (dolphins km⁻²) and abundance (dolphins) during primary photo-identification capture-recapture periods, and averaged over the study period in Mississippi Sound (MSS).

<p>Estimated common bottlenose dolphin density (dolphins km⁻²) and abundance (dolphins) during primary photo-identification capture-recapture periods, and averaged over the study period in Mississippi Sound (MSS).</p