The Sacred Selves of Adolescent Girls

Book excerpt: 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