adultify

Some crazy shit I heard an African-American woman say after the shooting death of 16-year-old girl who is in knife fight, saying that the right wing media was trying to “adultify” Miss Bryant so I guess it means trying to charge a minor as an adult had she not been killed and was arrested for her crime.

The right wing media was trying to “adultify” Miss Bryant

adultify by notprivileged April 24, 2021

Adultification 

Adultification is when groups of minority children are treated as more mature than lighter skinned children. it stems from a racial bias and negative stereotype of minority groups. This view is usually projected onto young African American girls, people thinking they don't need as much comfort, security, and love as white or lighter skinned children, and that African American girls know more about adult topics, are more mature, and know more about sex.

Adultification is seen heavily in media, African American girls and women being seen as more sassy, mature, aggressive, and/or provocative, this can also be (sadly) applied to other minority groups.

Chloe from Hey Arnold! Is an example of adultification. She uses someone just to get closer to her crush and takes advantage of the person because he has a crush on her. Along with that, she also dresses like she's 15-19. Despite all this, she is only 13 years old.

Adultification by material gworl✨💅 November 30, 2021

adultification 

A complaint to remember when someone says don't treat them like a kid, they don't like being treated like a kid.

He/she whined about adultification, or being treated as more adult than others, so deep down he/she must prefer to get treated like a kid, which is fine.

adultification by The Original Agahnim January 9, 2022

adultification

Adultification is a term used in psychology and sociology to describe the manner in which some children are treated by adults as being more mature than they actually are—such as when they are expected to take on age-inappropriate adult roles and responsibilities as children, and when they are taken to be as culpable as adults for any crime or wrongdoing.

In the United States, adultification is often used to refer to a form of racial bias, whereby black American children are assumed to be more culpable, and punished more harshly than white children, for the same offences done at the same age.

adultification by Emotional Cruiser October 21, 2025