How Describing Black Girls "Fast" and "Grown" Does More Harm Than Good: Featuring Jaynay Johnson LMFT

Hello friends,

Podcasts are probably my favorite way to spread awareness. Speaking with colleagues about my passion for teens is always a pleasure. On the A Date with Darkness podcast created by Natalie Jones, PsyD, we went deep into a conversation we rarely have about how mothers can be toxic to their daughters.

Jaynay discusses the importance of spending quality time with teenage girls and discussing relationships and feelings that young girls can experience while dating. More importantly, Jaynay educates on why calling young black girls "fast" and "grown" for having intimate feelings toward someone does more harm than good.

A picture with text that says do you call your daughter fast in white on a purple and aqua background

I imagine this subject will be a touchy one because there have been years of grooming and conditioning that impact how we adult-ify girls. Mothers and mother figures often cause the behavior that they often categorize as "grown" or "fast." More often than not, these words are used in place of fear. I want you to know that fear does not have to take over your life as a parent with your teen. Your relationship can thrive on other factors. Before we get there, we must acknowledge that these terms negatively impact youth.

Charge your device and listen to the podcast.

With love,

Jaynay